Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
The Department of Health (DOH) reiterated its commitment to continue the dialogues on climate and health as it led the forum at the United Nations (UN) Conference of Parties 28 (COP28) held in Dubai.
Issuing a statement on Sunday, Dec. 3, DOH said that the Philippines hosted the Climate Smarter Health System Forum which was a side event of the COP28 — coinciding with the first-ever COP28 Health Day.
“The Philippines appreciates the direction of COP28 by including health in the conversations on climate change,” DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said.
He pointed out that in the Philippines, a country that ranks among the top 10 countries out of more than 190 countries in terms of climate risks and hazards, the “health impact of climate change is a lived reality for countless Filipinos.”
“The climate crisis is a health crisis,” Herbosa said.
Given this, he reiterated the country’s commitment to continue the dialogue on climate and health and “enhance multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration.”
Aside from Herbosa, the forum was attended by World Health Organization (WHO) Climate and Health Advisor Dr. Sally Edwards, Director of Healthcare Solutions Dr. Caleb Dresser, and Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia Regional Program Manager Manjit Kaur Sohal.
St. Luke’s Medical Center Planetary and Global Health Director Dr. Renzo Guinto served as a moderator during the forum which focused on the impact of Typhoon Yolanda.
The participants also discussed the resilience of the health systems, climate health financing, continuity of health services amidst disasters, decarbonization of health facilities and supply chains, and local collaborations and engagement — among others.
Meanwhile, DOH noted that the Philippine health sector had long “embarked” on policies, strategies, and measures to ensure “climate-resilient health systems as evidenced in its action plans and adaptation plan that are an integral part of the Philippine society’s response to climate change and health threats.”
“With proactive, timely and effective adaptation, many health risks caused by climate change can be reduced, and some potentially avoided,” DOH said.
“Targeted investments in health and other systems, including multi-sectoral, integrated approaches to protect against key health risks can effectively increase resilience,” it added.
— Merlina Hernando-Malipot
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
