The disasters that occur as a result of climate change have a particularly significant impact on pregnant women, babies and children, as warned by the World Health Organization (WHO), which calls for urgent measures to be established to avoid risks. extreme health conditions faced by these very vulnerable population groups.
A new document published by United Nations (UN) agencies ahead of the Global Conference of the Parties (COP28) negotiations on climate change in Dubai has shown that the effects of climate phenomena on The health of mothers and children have been underestimated and not given due attention.
Protecting maternal, newborn and child health from the impacts of climate change: call for action is the name of the document, which highlights that very few countries make reference to maternal or child health in their response plans to climate change, something that describes as “a glaring and emblematic omission of inadequate attention to the needs of women, newborns and children in the climate change discourse.”
“Climate change represents an existential threat to all of us, but pregnant women, babies and children face some of the most serious consequences of all,” said Bruce Aylward, deputy director general of Universal Health Coverage, Life Course of the World Health Organization (WHO). “Children’s future must be consciously protected, which means taking climate action now for the sake of their health and survival, while ensuring that their unique needs are recognized in the climate response.”
Urgent actions to protect maternal and child health
During this year 2023, a series of devastating climate disasters have occurred: forest fires, floods, heat waves and droughts are forcing people to move, ruining crops, killing livestock and worsening air pollution. Rising temperatures are increasing the spread of life-threatening diseases such as cholera, malaria and dengue, which have dire consequences for pregnant women and children, who are more vulnerable to severe symptoms if they contract any of these infections.
Research has revealed that damage can begin even during development in the womb and lead to pregnancy-related complications, premature birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth. For children, the consequences can last a lifetime and affect the development of their bodies and brains as they grow.
“Children’s bodies and minds are especially vulnerable to pollution, deadly diseases and extreme weather conditions.”
“Climate change measures often ignore that children’s bodies and minds are especially vulnerable to pollution, deadly diseases and extreme weather conditions,” said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director of Programs Omar Abdi. “We do this at our own risk. The climate crisis is putting all children’s fundamental right to health and well-being at risk. It is our collective responsibility to listen and put children at the center of urgent climate action, starting at COP28. “This is the time to finally include children in the climate change agenda.”
The document highlights seven urgent actions to address these growing risks, including sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and action on climate finance, along with specific inclusion of the needs of pregnant women, babies and children. in climate and disaster policies. The agencies also call for more research to better understand the impacts of climate change on maternal and child health.
“To find climate solutions that recognize the diverse health needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls, we must start by asking the right questions,” said Diene Keita, Deputy Executive Director of Programs at UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund). , the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. “Global climate solutions must support, not sacrifice, gender equality.”
The document has been launched by WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA, along with an advocacy report prepared by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), which sets out specific recommendations for different stakeholders ( including governments, global financial mechanisms, donors and foundations, private sector and civil society) to ensure that the health needs of women, children and adolescents are better addressed in climate policies, financing and programmes.
“Climate change is one of the main intergenerational injustices of our times. Safeguarding the health and rights of women, children and adolescents is non-negotiable in the face of the climate crisis,” said Helen Clark, chair of the PMNCH board of directors and former prime minister of New Zealand. “Every stakeholder, from governments to the private sector and civil society, including health professionals, plays a critical role in advocating for policies and actions that protect the most vulnerable. The urgency of integrating the health of women, children and adolescents is not only a moral imperative, but an effective strategy with long-term benefits for resilient and healthy societies.”
Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
