WHO initiates local expertise to protect the health of Malawi Communities from climate emergency

• Image Credit: Internet

• Sep 23, 2021 | moderator

The climate change & health program members and the World Health Organization (WHO) have worked since 2014 to build flexibility and achieve climate and health resolutions in Malawi, East Africa.

Malawi has a sub-tropical climate that is characterized by seasonal changing. However, with time the climate change has brought various changes in the region.

Climate change is one of the major factors affecting lives and health. Regarding this, a climate change & health program was carried out in Malawi, East Africa. The program started in January 2014 as a part of the “Adaptation for Africa” project. 

The scheme was designed to help inhabitants of the region from the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS). This action allows vulnerable areas and communities to achieve climate variability better and adjust to climate alteration.

Under the project, all the nine communities of the area brought climate data development, built local capacity, and implemented new policies. Consequently, Malawi has strongly offered an advanced alarm method, formed an information policy, a Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP) and organized public well-being warnings for severe climate disasters. 

Understanding the inadequate national capability to respond to severe weather situations, the HCCCT collaborated with climate and health authorities to develop and achieved a structured information policy. 

To develop the weather flexibility of communities, public health advisories on severe climate issues such as floods, energy waves, high warmth, severe cold etc., were explained and interpreted in regional accents and field-tested.

However, despite the notable advance in developing flexibility and empowering local space, Malawi continues as one of the nations most vulnerable to weather change. Moreover, COVID 19 has started a new difficulty in how this group can efficiently converge and brainstorm on well-being and climate evolution.