Health experts are particularly concerned about the role of climate change in increasing vector-borne diseases in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, which already face many health and socio-economic disparities.
“The situation we face today, especially climate change, is no longer just an environmental problem, but has evolved into a major public health crisis with far-reaching impacts on communities around the world. It is critical that we recognize the gravity of this,'' said Edward Miano, Executive Director of the Health Rights Advocacy Forum (HERAF).
He noted that climate change is exacerbating disease patterns, with diseases emerging in areas where they did not previously exist. A good example is that malaria was not previously endemic in Kenya's highland regions, such as parts of the Rift Valley and Kericho County. However, the disease has returned in recent years, and some experts say the situation is related to subtle changes in the region's climate.
Mr. Miano spoke at a webinar held on April 4, co-sponsored by HERAF, the African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF), and the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP). This webinar is aimed at science and environmental journalists across the African continent and aims to highlight the intersection of climate change and public health, with a particular focus on the growing threat posed by vector-borne diseases in various African countries. was aimed at.
A study published in March in the journal Infectious Diseases of Poverty found that vector-borne diseases, which account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases, cause more than 700,000 deaths annually and pose a serious threat to global public health. It emphasizes that it brings about Major diseases such as malaria and dengue fever are associated with the greatest burden, affecting millions of people worldwide.
Work Tafete is a former visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patient from Metemma in northwest Ethiopia. Climate change is impacting the prevalence of VL, which is the second largest parasite killer after malaria. Changes in temperature and precipitation affect the geographic distribution of the sandfly population that causes this deadly disease.
Image ©️ Sydelle Willow Smith / DNDi.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 3.6 billion people live in areas highly susceptible to climate change, and an additional 250,000 deaths per year will be caused by climate-related factors between 2030 and 2050. It is predicted that this may increase. It is thought to be caused by malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress. And now health experts are adding vector-borne diseases to that list.
Kenya, like many other regions, is highly affected by vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and Rift Valley fever, and is witnessing climate change having a profound impact on health outcomes. The crisis requires urgent action and cooperation across sectors from health to medicine. agriculture, energy, tourism and marginalized communities.
However, this is not just a Kenyan problem. His 2022 study published in the Iranian Journal of Public Health found that global climate change has the potential to lengthen and expand the life cycles of disease-carrying vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and parasites. there is. “Increasing temperatures favor the emergence of agricultural pests, diseases, and pathogens. Therefore, climate change may increase the spread of certain infectious diseases, such as Lyme disease, waterborne diseases, and mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.” conditions already exist that favor this,” the study authors wrote.
Researchers also warn that among climate-related diseases, mosquito-borne viral and parasitic diseases are of greatest concern. These diseases are prevalent in the tropics and subtropics and therefore greatly limit the socio-economic status and development of countries with the highest prevalence. Average nighttime temperatures rise disproportionately compared to daytime temperatures, creating ideal temperatures for the growth of vectors and the spread of associated diseases.
City officials carry out a fogging campaign to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries dengue fever, in Kilrapone, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Rising temperatures are increasing the survival and reproduction of these mosquitoes.
Image ©️Xavier Vahed/DNDi.
Furthermore, WHO estimates that the direct health costs of climate change are expected to range from $2 billion to $4 billion per year by 2030, with a disproportionate impact on developing countries with weak health systems. It is estimated that it will give
Dr. Bernard Onyango, Senior Research and Policy Analyst at AFIDEP, focused on the complex interactions between climate-related health hazards, exposed populations, and vulnerability factors. He noted that climate hazards such as heat waves, sea level rise, air pollution, changes in vector distribution and ecosystems pose significant challenges to public health systems. “As global climate and land use change, the distribution of reservoir hosts and vectors is also changing, making it difficult to predict and respond effectively,” Onyango said during the webinar.
He also reiterated the need for a gender-sensitive approach to climate change, as women and girls are disproportionately affected by floods, droughts and heatwaves compared to men. This, she says, is because the climate crisis is not gender-neutral. When extreme weather events such as floods occur and affect health infrastructure, women often face challenges such as limited access to sexual and reproductive health rights services (SHR).
The impacts of limited access to SHR include the impact of maternal and child mortality and morbidity, unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and sexual and gender-based violence, resulting in higher rates of sexually transmitted infections. , an increase in HIV infections, and mental health problems such as depression. And trauma.
Aedes aegypti photographed in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. These mosquitoes transmit dengue fever, yellow fever, and other dangerous diseases. Health experts are concerned about an increase in vector-borne diseases due to climate change.
Image by Muhammad Mahdi Karim via Wikimedia Commons (GFDL 1.2).
Need for evaluation
During the webinar, Dr. Martin Muchangi, Director of Population Health and Environment at AMREF Health Africa, talked about identifying key priority areas and focusing on them to proactively implement interventions such as destroying vector breeding grounds. He said he needed to make a plan. . These include conducting vulnerability assessments in the health sector and developing national health adaptation plans.
He said, “For interventions to work, the Kenyan Ministry of Health needs to conduct a vulnerability assessment and identify areas of focus in reducing the spread of vector-borne diseases.” Policies and adaptation plans will only be formulated after this process, he added. could be formulated and adopted into the national financial budget for implementation.
According to Muchangi, addressing climate and health ignorance in the health sector is paramount as there are very few experts in this field in a country like Kenya. “We must call upon ourselves to start building the capacity of our health workforce so that ultimately the doctors and nurses who care for our patients can solve the challenges that come to the health sector. The climate crisis. ” he said.
He added that training should also be extended to community health promoters who interact with communities at the grassroots level. “They are [community health promoters] We need to understand that when a phenomenon like drought is predicted, it can mean many things, from malnutrition to disease. ”
holistic approach
Climate change is a resource drain, and addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change requires a holistic, multidisciplinary approach that involves all sectors of society, from health to education to government. . Community engagement and education are also important, as local communities play a key role in building resilience and implementing effective adaptation strategies.
Speaking to Mr. Mongabay in an email interview after the webinar, Professor Samuel Kariuki, East Africa Director of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), said that all affected by climate change and its health impacts He stressed that stakeholders should be involved in all interventions. “To play a key role in preparing for and responding to events that may occur post-flood, all stakeholders must be involved, from affected communities to local and national governments. ” [and] Drought will impact the spread of vector-borne diseases,” Kariuki said.
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) team, led by East Africa Director Samuel Kariuki (second from right), at the Leishmaniasis Treatment Center in Amudat, Uganda. Climate change is expanding the range of the disease-carrying sandfly.
Image ©️DNDi.
From discovering and innovating new treatments, to partnering with manufacturers to harness these treatments, and ensuring access for patients, DNDi is committed to improving the health of some of the neglected tropical diseases listed by the World Health Organization (WHO). We have been working on initiatives to combat NTDs. Since his founding in 2003, DNDi has developed 13 treatments for six of the most serious NTDs, including mycetoma, pediatric HIV, Chagas disease, hepatitis C, and visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar. We have provided it.
According to Kariuki, the prevalence of these NTDs is also greatly influenced by climate change. Visceral leishmaniasis, for example, is the second largest cause of death due to parasites after malaria. It is fatal in 95% of cases if untreated and is transmitted by female sandflies. It grows in temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). “As temperatures rise, there will be more areas suitable for sandflies to breed. Additionally, sandflies will be more active in warm, humid environments, potentially increasing the frequency of human bites and transmission,” the director said. “There is,” he pointed out.
early warning system
Kariuki said governments and other stakeholders can work with weather bureaus that predict weather patterns to warn communities about weather events that could lead to new outbreaks of disease or an increased burden of vector-borne diseases. states that it is important to do so. “We must prepare for such events in advance and have reserves ready to respond when needed.Apart from this, we must all play different roles and take part in activities that contribute to global warming. “We must work to mitigate climate change by preventing it,” he said.
We also need to increase investment in serious, community-driven research initiatives. Collaboration between governments, the scientific community, and funding bodies is essential to advance evidence-based interventions and promote scientific excellence. These efforts should transcend national borders, as there are many countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the Global North that need these new biomedical innovations.
“We must recognize the challenges we face and embrace innovation that plays a key role in mitigating climate-sensitive diseases, including NTDs. By listening to society, seeking unique solutions, and building partnerships that complement these efforts, we will reap long-term benefits through effective and sustainable solutions.” DNDi’s East Africa Director concluded.
Quote:
Alsop, Z. (2007). As temperatures rise, malaria returns to Kenya's highlands. Lancet, 370(9591), 925-926. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(07)61428-7
Obame-Nkoge, J., Agosu, A.E., Mbuwa, G., Kamugan, B., Kaminade, C., Duke, DC, … Voua-Otomo, P. (2024). Climate-driven vector-borne diseases in Africa: A call to empower the next generation of African researchers for sustainable solutions. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 13(1). doi:10.1186/s40249-024-01193-5
written by
Juliet Akos Ojiwan
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This article was originally published by Mongabay/small> on May 13, 2024.
