Untitled - DOH

MessageMessageThe ultimate impact of climate change is a toll on our most precious resource – humanlives and human health.The changing climate will inevitably affect the basic requirements for maintaining health:clean air and water, sufficient food and adequate shelter.Climate change brings new challenges to the control of infectious diseases. Many of themajor killers are highly climate sensitive as regards temperature and rainfall, includingcholera and the diarrhoeal diseases, as well as diseases including Malaria, Dengue andother infections carried by vectors. Facts are, climate change threatens to slow, halt orreverse the progress that the global public health community is now making against manyof these diseases.The responsibility in protecting the well-being falls on the health sector. Now is the timeto invest in health protection, and adopting life-saving policies that will increaseresilience to climate change.The Philippine government recognized the impact of climate change, especially onhealth. Several policies have been formulated as a means for controlling human activitiesthat emit greenhouse gases and in protecting the population against the threat of climatechange to health.The World Health Organization commend the Department of Health in coming up with a“Policy Handbook” – a relevant compilation of policies on climate change and health.Undoubtedly, this Handbook will serve as a useful reference tool for stakeholders as wellas decision-makers at national and local levels to guide them in determining the approachand directions on climate change adaptation for the health sector. It would likewise helpidentify strategies and actions to protect the human health, particularly of the mostvulnerable groups.Indeed, the time for action is now. By taking action on climate change, you are protectinghuman health.Dr. Soe Nyunt-Uv WHO Representative to the Philippinesv