Climate Change and Women’s Health: Observations from the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Romesa Saqib is a medical student with a strong interest in research and global health. He 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.

When the Climate Breaks, Women Pay the Price

Climate change is no longer just an environmental issue; it is becoming a major factor in global health with effects that are not always clear or well-known. Women, especially those in resource-poor areas, are among the most affected. This is because their biological vulnerability is combined with social and economic inequalities.

Climate change is often talked about using numbers and predictions, but its real effects are seen in problems with getting healthcare, worse outcomes for mothers, and more exposure to environmental risks.

Maternal health is the first to suffer;

In a lot of studies, I’ve seen that being pregnant and being around heat can cause problems like having a baby too soon, having a low birth weight, and having high blood pressure. These conditions are already some of the main causes of death for mothers and their babies, and they are becoming more common as the world’s temperatures rise.

From what I’ve read and seen, climate change makes this problem even worse when it comes to food security. In many places, women already have a hard time getting enough food, and changes in the environment only make it harder for them to do so. This has an effect on the mother’s health and also directly affects the growth and long-term health of the foetus.

Work That Never Gets Counted

There is another side to this that you don’t usually see in clinical training. Women are in charge of getting food, water, and fuel for their families in many places in the Global South. The work gets harder as climate change makes these resources harder to get to. Women walk farther, carry more, and work longer hours to keep their families going during times of drought and bad harvests. They often have less education, fewer job options, and little say in decisions that affect their lives directly. They are being asked to deal with the effects of a crisis they had the least to do with making.

What This Means for Those of Us Training Now

I think about this a lot. The clinical skills we are developing are of great significance, yet their efficacy is limited. It is not an abstract idea to understand that a patient’s health is affected by where she lives, what she can afford, and what systems help or hurt her. It is very important to give good care. Future healthcare professionals can take this seriously in practical ways, like thinking about the climate when we evaluate patients, thinking about who is most at risk, and pushing

Future medical professionals can take this seriously in real-world ways, such as incorporating climate awareness into patient assessments, anticipating who is most vulnerable, and advocating for health policies that support women in times of emergency. Even before we have a prescription licence, we students can make a difference through advocacy and research.

The Bigger Picture

Gender inequality is not caused by climate change, but it is exacerbated in ways that are quantifiable, avoidable, and generally disregarded. Global health is not a side issue when it comes to safeguarding women’s health as the world warms. It is one of the most significant issues that our generation will encounter, and I believe that is how we should approach it.

About the author

Romesa Saqib is a medical student with a strong interest in research and global health. He is actively involved with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA) and has contributed to various academic and community-based initiatives. She has experience in organising and participating in research activities, trainings and awareness campaigns.

Romesa Saqib is particularly inclined towards understanding public health challenges and their practical implications in clinical settings. She aims to integrate evidence-based knowledge with real-world application and is currently engaged in academic work alongside collaborative projects.

In her free time, she enjoys participating in educational activities and contributing to student-led initiatives. He aspires to continue working in the fields of research, public health and clinical medicine