A major impediment to providing early warning and response to public health threats is adequate surveillance and detection of diseases and understanding of the social and environmental factors that contribute to these diseases. This is particularly acute in Africa where the capacity of health facilities and environmental monitoring is limited.
One major approach to address the lack of environmental information in Africa is Global Humnitarian Forum's Weather Info for All project. Working with National Meteorological Services and mobile telecommunication operators, the GHF aims to provide automatic weather stations that can enhance national networks and provide the opportunity for communities to receive weather and climate information to protect their lives and livelihoods. These data will be particulrly useful in enhancing health early warning systems throughout the continent.
The Meningitis Environmental Risk Information Technologies ‘MERIT’ project is a collaborative initiative of the WHO and members of the environmental, public health and epidemiological communities. The overarching objective of the MERIT project is to help reduce the burden of epidemic meningococcal meningitis across Africa’s Meningitis Belt by improving the risk assessment and management of the disease and by informing both reactive and preventative vaccination strategies.
Health equity and climate change have significant and intersecting impacts on human wellbeing and quality of life. Disadvantaged communities are likely to shoulder a disproportionate share of the burden of climate change because of their increased exposure and vulnerability to health threats. Climate change alters the distribution of disease transmitting organisms, impacts on water supply and threatens food security in many developing countries. Any future climate deal must be fully informed by its impact on health and aligned to the worldwide advancement of health equity.
A Workshop held as part of the 2009 Global Humanitarian Forum Human Impact of Climate Change and chaired by Prof Sir Michael Marmot explored the fundamental issues underlying health equity and climate change policy and how these twin agendas should be aligned.
Writing in the Guardian, Lord Jay and Prof Sir Michael Marmot put it succinctly "Worsening climate Change mean the world is facing a 'a global health catastrophe' that will hit the poorest people on Earth the hardest".
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