Exploring novel solutions for tracking and adapting to the health impacts of climate change in resource-constrained settings
Background:
Climate change is among the greatest threats to global health that humanity has ever faced. Understanding the effects of climate change on health and exploring novel solutions is critical to building an effective response and progressing towards achievement of the SDGs.
Our session highlights the health impacts of climate change in sub-Saharan Africa, while demonstrating the opportunity for rapidly advancing the development of novel data science solutions, population-level interventions and the translation of research into climate action. The session focuses mostly on extreme heat and maternal and child health, but is applicable to other hazardous climatic exposures and population groups, globally. We note the importance of strategic planning to assess, forecast and mitigate heat-derived health impacts requiring coordination between government, funders, implementing partners, civil society organisations, private sector, and community actors.
Aims:
The session aims to:
Demonstrate the consequences of climate change for human health, with a focus on the impacts of extreme heat on maternal and child health Present emerging technologies and approaches in data science, including machine learning and artificial intelligence for measuring and addressing climate change risks Explore priority actions for protecting pregnant women and newborns from the effects of climate change Highlight the importance of monitoring the impacts of and the response to climate change Discuss the central role that the health sector could play in driving climate action and a step-change in financing.
Program Structure Session Chairs: Chewe Luo & Alash’le Abimiku
1. Welcome and Opening Remarks [Chewe Luo] – 5mins
2. Climate change impacts on health: a focus on pregnant women and young children [Tatenda Makanga] – 20 mins
3. Responses to the climate change crisis: understanding and monitoring the impact of climate change, packages of adaptation interventions, and climate financing [Nicholas Brink] – 20 mins
4. Towards national programs on climate change and Health: the role of the Development sector [Andrew Storey] – 20 mins
5. Question and Answer Session [All speakers] – 20 mins
6. Panel Discussion: Exploring novel solutions for tracking and adapting to the health impacts of climate change in resource-constrained settings [Chair: Prof. Alash’le Abimiku (INFORM Africa, Panel: Ijeoma Solarin(Wits PHR), Anayda Portela (WHO), Brad Newsome(NIH), Chenfeng Xiong (INFORM Africa)]
7. Closing Remarks [Prof. Alash’le Abimiku] – 5 mins