Symposium explores impact of climate change on health

Climate change has an impact not only on infectious diseases such as dengue and malaria but also on chronic diseases. The planet is heating, and more heatwaves could increase the chance of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney diseases, impact sleep and mental health, raising the need to find practical solutions to help the communities most impacted, according to Anushka Patel, chief executive officer, The George Institute for Global Health. At the second annual symposium of The NIHR Global Health Research Centre for Non Communicable Diseases and Environmental Change held on the theme, ‘Innovative Solutions and Strategies for Sustainable Health and Environment’, on Monday, Dr. Patel said that the twin epidemic of chronic diseases and climate change/environmental degradation was affecting health in Low and Middle Income Countries. Need for intersectoral collaboration Speaking at a panel on ‘The future of health in the face of environmental challenges’, Sujatha Rao, External Advisory Board chair, said that India has the largest number of young persons dying due to heart diseases as well as the highest disease burden of under-five mortality, with 66% of these children having access to poor quality water. The symposium, held in collaboration with Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, focused on the evolving intersection of health and environmental challenges, and featured discussions on impact of climate change on health, emerging risks, innovative healthcare approaches, and latest strategies for preventing and managing NCDs.