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World Health Day observance tomorrow

MALAPPURAM: World Health Day will be celebrated here with a variety of programmes on Monday. Sports and Law Minister M. Vijayakumar will inaugurate the celebrations at DTPC Hall here on Monday morning, marking the founding of the World Health Organisation.

This year’s theme ‘protecting health from climate change’ will put people’s health at the centre of the dialogue about climate change, said District Medical Officer (DMO) K.M. Noorul Ameen. The World Health Organisation selected that theme in recognition that climate change was posing increasing threats public health security.

Dr. Ameen said that health hazards from climate change ranged from higher risks of extreme weather events to changes in the dynamics of infectious diseases. Several of the leading killer diseases are sensitive to climate, and their incidence and spread are likely to be affected by changing weather patterns, he said.

According to the World Health Organisation, the health impacts of climate change are already evident in different ways. More and more people are dying from excessive heat than before; incidence of vector-borne diseases are on the rise; and the pattern of natural disasters is altering.

Health authorities pointed out that the health impacts of climate change would be difficult to reverse. Yet, many of these possible impacts can be avoided or controlled, they said. For example, they said, controlling disease vectors, reducing pollution from transport, and efficient land use and water management are well-known measures that can help.

The MES Medical College and Hospital at Perinthalmanna will organise a wide variety of programmes as part of the World Health Day celebrations.

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