Impact of climate change on health deliberated

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 8: There has been no confirmed cases of heat-related illness in Manipur, but the State has experienced extreme weather conditions and related health issues, said Dr Y Niveda, Nodal Officer of National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health.
The Nodal Officer of the NPCCHH said this at an event held in connection with the 3rd Climate Change Reporting for media fellows at the premises of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change here today.
As a resource person, Dr Niveda said extreme weather conditions such as heatwave, severe drought, flood etc may cause a wide range of health issues and illnesses.
Dr Niveda said extremely hot weather (heatwave) may cause heat rash (prickly heat), heat cramps, heat edema, heat exhaustion, fainting (heat syncope) and heatstroke.
With the Nation experiencing increasing extreme weather conditions and the related health issues becoming a major problem, the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) was launched by the Government of India in 2019, Dr Niveda said.
Taken up under the National Health Mission, the programme aims to address the health issues related to climate change and minimise risk of illnesses related to it, the Nodal Officer said.
When heat-related illnesses are widely reported in other States, Manipur has not reported any cases till today. However, the State has faced health issues related to extreme weather conditions, Dr Niveda said.
In event of extreme weather conditions such as flood, public health advisories are issued under the State Programme Climate Change and Human Health and awareness are given at grassroots levels, the expert said.
The Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Manipur Pollution Control Board, Relief and Disaster Management Directorate, the Directorate of Statistics, Indian Meteorological Department, JNIMS, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are engaged in the programme, Dr Niveda said.
The resource persons also stressed on the importance of recycling waste, afforestation and reducing carbon emission for mitigating climate change and global warming.
Shija Hospital Chairman and managing Director Dr Kh Palin said the number of deaths due to climate change may exceed deaths caused by wars.
Climate change can't be restricted by borders and it affects all. As such, a climate resilient healthcare strategy is a must, he said.
Director of Environment and Climate Change, T Brajakumar said the amount of rainfall this season in Manipur is high, and stressed that this climate crisis has caused community crises.
As an impact of climate change, springs in the  hills have dried up and this has caused severe water crisis.
Meteorological Centre Imphal's head JKS Yadav, senior journalists Irengbam Arun, Sangai Express Editor Khogendra Khomdram, environmentalist Salam Rajesh among others attended the event.
Media fellows were given certificates at the event.