Climate-related health emergencies are on the rise in the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa region : 25% more between 2011 and 2021 compared to the previous decade. Furthermore, they represent “more than half of the eventspublic health concerns” recorded in this area over the past two decades, according to the UN agency, i.e. “56% of 2121” events listed between 2001 and 2021.
“In Africa, frequent floods and waterborne and vector-borne diseases are aggravating health crises. Although the continent contributes the least to global warming, it suffers all the consequences,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. Water-related diseases and those transmitted by a vector – such as a mosquito – account respectively for 40% and 28% of these emergencies. “In Senegal, for example, extreme climatic conditions are not unrelated to the dengue fever epidemic. (vector-borne disease, Editor’s note) which affected certain regions of the country a few weeks ago”, explained the Senegalese Press Agency at the end of March.
Likewise, “Climate change could expand the range of areas at high risk of malaria, according to a report by the Netherlands-based Global Center for Adaptation,” says the WHO. “Although mortality due to malaria has increased from 840,000 deaths in 2000 to 602,000 in 2020, the disease remains a major health threat on the continent.”
“If global warming reaches 1.5°C, summarizes the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)the distribution and seasonal transmission of vector-borne diseases are expected to increase, exposing tens of millions more people, primarily in eastern and southern Africa.”
Other expected effects of global warming : Ihas malnutrition and hunger “due to unfavorable weather conditions for agricultural production”, points out the WHO. According to a report by the Netherlands-based Global Adaptation Centre, “An additional 78 million people (…) will face chronic hunger in Africa by 2050”. “Global agricultural growth has slowed due to climate change and Africa is the most affected region” with a reduction of 34%, entrusted at the beginning of March the Dr Christopher Trisos, responsible for the chapter devoted to Africa in the last report of the IPCC, to Africa Renewal.
“Several countries in Africa are expected to face overlapping risks, he continued. They will experience reduced food production from crops and fish production, as well as increased heat-related mortality. Heat-related loss of labor productivity and flooding due to sea level rise. This is particularly the case in West Africa. Limiting global warming to 1.5°C should significantly reduce damage to African economies, health and ecosystems.”
The number of natural disasters has also increased sharply since 2010, recalls the WHO : 70% of them took place between 2017 and 2021. Floods, in the lead, represent 33% of these climatic hazards. On the occasion of World Health Day celebrated on April 7 and under the theme this year Our planet, our health, the WHO calls on governments “to prioritize human well-being in all key decisions, stop new fossil fuel exploration and subsidies, tax polluters and implement WHO air quality guidelines .”