Climate change: Our health compromised!

By Primrose Mashavave

For a while now our greater population has been ignorant to the existence of climate change and even more, the dire effects it entails. Many of us do not realise the magnitude of this problem we have on our hands.

Climate change is evident in the warmer winters, the heat waves, floods and droughts just to mention a few.

Due to warmer winters, disease carrying insects which normally die during the cold season survive throughout the season thereby also providing a larger base for reproduction during the next hot season. Occurrence and spread of the Zika virus, malaria, Lyme disease, dengue fever is therefore increased rapidly. Exposure to extreme heat can also lead to heat stroke and dehydration. Extreme heat may also cause an increase in skin infections, inflammatory skin diseases, and traumatic skin disorders.

Longer warm seasons translate to more pollen being produced. Pollen is known to trigger asthma and allergies hence an increase in pollen will also mean an increase in asthma cases.

Climate change is also known to cause higher concentrations of air pollutants in our atmosphere. Changing environmental conditions, including rising temperatures, are expected to increase concentrations of ground-level ozone. Air pollution increases respiratory diseases, doing devastating damage to our lungs and airway passages. The eyes are also vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.

Change in climate also means the agricultural sector is stunted resulting in heavy cost on the nation and malnutrition in a large fraction of the country.

Natural disasters for example floods result in loss of proper sanitation, medication, proper health facilities, safe water, and may also result in mental illnesses and spread of diseases. Natural disasters put a heavy burden on the nation financially hence limited funds for our health sector to properly flourish.

Certain people are more vulnerable to climate change than others these include children, older people and less privileged people.

We should all hold hands to combat this venomous creature called ‘climate change’ before it kills us all. Methods of adaptation should also be put in place to reduce the impacts of climate change on our health.