Climate Change: The Silent Health Threat

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Dewan Naziha Alhan Noor, a student of Bangladesh Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

Nowadays the biggest threat to this progressive world is climate change. According to the United Nations Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. If the changing climate threatens the environment, then the first thing it will affect is humans, specifically our health. Such as- by increasing illness and death caused by extreme weather conditions, vector-borne diseases, air and water-borne diseases, zoonoses, non-communicable diseases,  respiratory problems due to air pollution, and to some extent mental health problems.

Climate change disrupts food and water availability which ultimately leads to malnutrition and dehydration specifically in vulnerable communities.
Extreme weather changes due to climate change cause natural calamities like flooding, tsunamis, and storms. Which causes the spreading of waterborne diseases very easily like cholera, diarrhea, etc. Infrastructures of the healthcare system are often destructed by natural calamities which disrupt the health service for a prolonged period and also immediate medical care needed for the people affected by disasters.

One of the main reasons for climate change is greenhouse gas emissions causing air pollution, which leads to an increase in respiratory disorders.
Displacement from home due to resource scarcity, natural calamities, competition for a limited amount of food and safe water, and uncertainty due to climate change may contribute to the development of different types of mental health disorders like- anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) leading to long term mental health effect.

The ones who are first and most affected by climate change are often the ones who contribute least to it, such as low-income underprivileged communities, ethnic minorities, and older populations. This discrimination is due to limited access to healthcare, social disparities, and lack of resources.
It is unequivocal that climate change is the biggest threat that humanity is facing right now. To mitigate health risks due to this we can-
– shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources of clean energy like solar, wind, hydro geothermal energy.

– Implement proper policies regarding equality in public health in case of extreme weather conditions. Access to healthcare and medical attention during disasters must be ensured for the underprivileged community.
– Involve the communities in climate adaptation planning and implement their ideas to mitigate the effects, it will be culturally or contextually appropriate and will be accepted by society more profoundly.
– Make the public aware of the fact that even though different inventions are making our lives easier, their sources of energy are greatly hampering our future. They should be encouraged to make some lifestyle changes like conserving water, using energy-efficient appliances, and reducing individual carbon footprints.
–There should be enough support and advocacy in making policy for a better environment at local, national, and international levels to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and maintain equity in public health.

This is our time to be fully aware of the danger of climate change and as medical students, we can start raising awareness from the molecular level to mitigate the biggest health threat that humanity can face.

About the author

Dewan Naziha Alhan Noor is a student of Bangladesh Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. She is currently serving as the Local Committee Associate, at BMSS-Bangladesh. She’s always in search of books and articles that will stimulate her mind and enrich her as a person. She cherishes the exchange of ideas and the pursuit of knowledge through writing. Apart from being a book enthusiast with an unwavering commitment to the field of medicine, Naziha aspires to heal, uplift, and make a positive impact on countless lives.