6 January 2019
Seeking clarification on Solomon Islands Health and Climate Change Adaption Plan
The Solomon Islands has been inundated with heavy rain and strong wind in the past week or so from a passing cyclone affecting thousands of people and causing extensive flooding, property damage, soil erosion, loss of food gardens, polluted streams, saline intrusion into drinking and water supplies and very sadly, the loss of two lives.
The regularity of such occurrences was predicted by scientists when citing that tropical cyclones could be expected to increase in intensity in the region due to the influence of climate change.
Scientist also predicted that rainfall is projected to increase over the next years with more extreme rainfall events expected.
As the Solomon Islands is increasingly vulnerable to climate change and the health services generally are under great pressure to provide adequate health services for a number of reasons, including a lack of finance, shortage of doctors, derelict rural health clinics, frequent drugs shortages and the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, strokes and cardiovascular diseases, to name but a few of the troubling concerns, I raise the question about the existence of a Health and Climate Change Adaption or Action Plan and whether one exists?
In the Solomon Islands specific diseases have reportedly been linked to climate and or weather patterns including malaria, mental illness, malnutrition, diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, micronutrient deficiency, parasitic diseases due to poor sanitation and non-communicable diseases. Such changes to health and disease naturally place additional burdens on women and children.
I feel sure the local MHMS has in mind the need for a comprehensive understanding of the implications on the health and welfare of the people as a consequence of climate change, but it would be encouraging to know the existing range of feasible adaption strategies to avoid or to mitigate at least the most serious impacts of climate change on overall health of Solomon Islanders.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
