Local ENBEL policy workshop in Uganda sparked timely discussions
A set of concrete recommendations to advance the climate and health agenda and to address climate-related health risks were identified by the participants in a climate and health workshop in Uganda co-organised by ENBEL-partner Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre and the Ugandan Ministry of Health.
By Shaban Mawanda and Eddie Jjemba, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre
An inspiring workshop on health and climate change took place in Uganda on Tuesday the 11th of October 2022. The workshop was jointly organized by the Uganda Ministry of Health and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, supported by the partners of the Enhancing Belmont Research Action to support EU policy making on climate change and health (ENBEL) and the African CHANCE Network. The workshop was timely organized and allowed high-level national policy makers, researchers, humanitarian and health practitioners to discuss opportunities and next steps to address health and climate concerns in Uganda. The ideas generated were included in the dialogues at COP27.
Concrete recommendations were developed when policy makers, researchers, humanitarian and health practitioners came together to discuss climate and health in Uganda. Photo: Climate Centre
The dialogues at the workshop evolved from discussing the health impacts of climate chance and the potential needs and opportunities to address these through investments in policy, practice, research and financing. A set of concrete recommendations to advance this agenda and to address climate-related health risks were identified by the participants.
Closing the finance gap for climate and health
A first set of ideas that emerged were related to the discussions on how to close the finance gap for climate and health. The financial deficit disclosed in the updated Nationally determined contribution (NDC) can be partly addressed by accessing climate financing for health. Accredited institutions should guide the Ministry to understand opportunities within available funding instruments, such as the Green Climate Fund. The participants also discussed the need to call upon developing countries to increase climate funding to adapt health systems to the current and future impacts of climate change. Such funding should be accessible by institutions at the national and sub-national level.
Need to invest in further research
Secondly, the participants elaborated on the importance that all next steps will leverage the existing institutional infrastructure, which means that the process to advance the health and climate agenda needs to follow the guiding policies in place, such as the Climate change Act, and the updated Nationally Determined Contribution, which will all provide a strong framework for developing strategies and plans for resilient health systems. Furthermore, it is recommended that the Ministry digitize data collection and aggregation of all diseases related to climate change to enable further research. Which brings us to the discussions on the dire need to invest in further research. This proved to be an important discussion at the workshop, embraced by all participants. It is clear that more research is needed in Uganda, like in most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. There has been limited research on the climate-health nexus so far and especially understanding research gaps on risk perception and action related to heat health, mental health, and resilient health infrastructure is needed. All of these areas are directly or indirectly impacted by a changing climate. Participants therefore recommend investment in comprehensive research on health and climate change risks, including but not limited to heatwaves and resilient health infrastructure.
Limited awareness of climate change and health link
Lastly, a very concrete element that was emphasized is the further need for capacity building, geared to boost rapid progress of this agenda. Generally, there is limited awareness and knowledge about the link between climate change and health among health practitioners and local level policy makers. Participants recommended increasing awareness by incorporating climate change into the health training curriculum of pre-service and in-service training opportunities. Awareness campaigns should be holistic to equip the health workforce based on “One health approach”. In addition, it is recommended for the government to invest in resilient health systems and infrastructure, including climate-smart technologies. Finally, health practitioners should access, interpret and use climate and weather information for short, medium and long term planning. For example, Village Health Teams can double as climate champions at the local level.
Read the full report from the workshop in Uganda here.
The Uganda workshop was organised within the ENBEL task to “convene workshops in low- and middle-income countries” led by Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre.