PROF JOSEPHINE KHAOMA W. NGAIRA- PhD, MKNAS Professor of geography- climatology. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology-MMUST P. O. BOX 190-50100 Kakamega, KENYA Email:ngaira06@yahoo.co.uk/ jkngaira@mmust.ac.ke. Mobile: +254 722 812984/ CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH-GREY AREAS FOR RESEARCH. 7TH CONSAMS WORKSHOP, 16TH-18TH . MMUST

WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE? Changes in greenhouse gas concentrations which alters global temperature and causes catastrophic impacts on Human health. Increased levels of greenhouse gases ( carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour) are caused by Anthropogenic/human activities Increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere present serious threat to the Environment, Human Health and Future of the coming generations Climate change is the driver of disease migration and mutation. Need for Urgent and Ambitious Mitigation and adaptation strategies to curb the runaway global temperature rise. Climate change is the CRISIS of the 21st century.

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. Climate change effects are visible in the following: Frequent El Niño floods and La Niña droughts. Sea level rise and submergence of coastal and low lying areas. Heat waves and Hurricanes landslides, mudslides… Polluted air quality and property destruction. Physical, social and psychological health of Humans. Displacement and death of humans

VULNERABILITY OF AFRICA TO CLIMATE CHANGE. Africa is in the EYE of the storm and suffers from “wicked problems” such as poverty, land degradation and climate change caused diseases. It is faced with interlinked challenges such as: Location within the tropics and astride the equator, exposed to bothTropical and Equatorial diseases. Low human adaptive capacity leading to poverty, low technological development. Climate dependent rain fed agriculture.

killer CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSED HEALTH ISSUES/DISEASES. NIEHS interagency identified climate change caused diseases as: Asthma, cardiovascular, stroke, . Food borne and water borne diseases. Heat related. Mental health and stress related. Neurological diseases and disorders. Impaired human development diseases. Cancers

GREY AREAS FOR RESEARCH. 1) Mental health and stress- caused by geographical displacement due to floods, droughts, loss of property and lives in landslides, hurricanes RESEARCH: Identify major mental health effects, Vulnerable populations and develop health systems that ensure availability of health care support. 2) Impaired human development- caused by reduced food supplies, use of pesticides for food production and climate related toxic contaminants lead to complications of Malnutrition during pre-natal and early childhood development.

GREY AREAS CONT’D 3) Food borne diseases and Nutrition- caused by shortage of “Staple” foods due to droughts e.g maize and rice in Africa and contamination of sea foods e.g fish during sea level rise lead to Malnutrition. RESEARCH. Establish how changes in agriculture and fisheries can affect food availability and nutrition. Establish alternative replacement of the “staple” foods and fish.

GREY AREAS CONT’D. 4) Heat wave related deaths and diseases- caused by rise in temperature, visible in sub-Saharan Africa. RESEARCH. Focus on developing and expanding response plans and alert systems. Identify risk factors, vulnerable populations and develop prevention factors. 5) Asthmatic attacks-caused by increase air pollution, extreme and frequent precipitation, dust from droughts and exposure to pollens due altered growing seasons.

GREY AREAS CONT’D RESEARCH. Focus on the relationship between climate change and composition of air pollutant mixtures e.g from industries, agricultural sprays and pesticides.

CONCLUSION. Research on mitigation and adaptation strategies on health and climate change must be developed with a clear understanding of the Science of Climate change. Medics, Africa’s Hopes for survival from the Catastrophic climate change caused Health diseases Rests with YOU.

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