Climate Impacts in Central America Being Watched by WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) and representatives from Central American governments are analyzing the effects climate change could have on the health of Central Americans during a workshop being held in San Jos� this week to reflect on this topic.

The event seeks to draw attention to the “very important link” between the environment and health, explained María Neira, WHO director of public health and the environment.

“We are in a critical phase of modifying our lifestyles and making decisions about the types of energy and collective transportation we should use. If these decisions aren't taken into consideration, the impact on our health will be very big,” Neira said.

Representatives from WHO, the Pan-American Health Organization, the United Nations, the Red Cross and the Central American Integration System (SICA) are among participants.

In Central America, climate change has affected the population's health through hurricanes and droughts in recent years, according to Luis Galvao, WHO sustainable development manager. Countries should take two actions to decrease long-term production of greenhouse gases: switching to cleaner energy sources and planning cities better, he said. In the short-term, countries should also improve their health systems to provide better epidemiological vigilance and improve access to water and food during and after disasters.

Costa Rican Public Health Minister María Luisa Avila cited outbreaks of dengue as consequences of climate change Costa Rica has seen in the last couple of years. The country had never seen this disease before now because weather conditions were unfavorable for the type of mosquito that transmits it, she said.

“This is a topic with important repercussions because during the 14 years since dengue was first registered here, we have seen serious economic and social costs and difficulty in controlling the disease,” she said.