Unravelling the health impact of climate change

Impact of Heat on Human and Animal Health in India: A Landscape Review

Climate change presents a significant global public health challenge for animals and humans. Due to geography, climate, population, and urbanization, India is vulnerable to extreme heat. This review aims to explore the impact of heat on human and animal health in India. The publications on this topic were retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Out of 219 articles extracted, 44 were reviewed. The review included articles published in the last ten years, regardless of design. Half of the 44 articles were original studies; the rest were perspective, opinion, review studies, editorial, or commentary papers. The present review shows how heat adversely affects human health, increasing mortality and morbidity, especially during heat waves. Heat-related health issues in India include increased hospital admissions for cardiorespiratory diseases, mental health problems, reduced productivity, and agricultural yields. Vulnerable groups like workers, pregnant women, and children require targeted interventions. Limited evidence exists on the impact of heat on animals, but studies show increased health problems due to high temperatures. Targeted interventions are needed to prevent heat-related mortality and morbidity in India.

Does climate change threaten delivery of HIV care in resource-limited settings?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Extreme weather events (EWEs) pose a challenge to achieving UNAIDS goal of eliminating HIV as a public health threat by 2030. This review summarizes recent findings describing the disruption of HIV services by EWEs and discusses strategies for a resilient HIV care programme in resource-limited settings.

RECENT FINDINGS

EWEs impact each component of the continuum of care - HIV testing, linkage to treatment, viral suppression and other HIV prevention services. EWEs disrupt healthcare provision either through impacting the ability of the healthcare system to deliver care because of infrastructure damage and increased workload or by limiting people's ability to seek healthcare because of access challenges and forced displacements. This culminates in disengagement from care, poor treatment adherence and increase in HIV disease progression with more vulnerable groups such as women and young people being more adversely impacted.

SUMMARY

Most people affected by or at risk of HIV reside in resource-poor settings which are the region with the least capacity to adapt to climate change. Few recent studies with very limited geographical coverage show that EWEs affect the delivery of HIV care in this setting. Climate adaptation and mitigation policies are required to protect health in resource-limited settings.

Intolerable Burden of Malaria among Primitive Tribal Community in Odisha: Examining the Fundamental Cause

This study seeks to examine the living conditions, working conditions, and health seeking behaviour for malaria among Kondho community after one is infected with malaria. The residential surroundings of those diagnosed with malaria positive cases were extremely conducive for mosquito breeding. For instance, the majority of households threw garbage near their house, went for open defecation, the cowshed was beside their houses, and above all the houses were mostly situated in the jungle or near thick forest. Sub-centre followed by the community health centres was the first point of contact in most cases but medical care was sought only after routine life was affected. While malaria treatment plans are changing towards administering more powerful drugs as a result of chloroquine resistance but not as much has been done in the ground to prevent malaria at the first place. Therefore, together with continuing curative care for malaria—more emphasis is needed on its prevention. Community, civil society and the government need to work in tandem to improve the living and working conditions of backward communities particularly those living in malaria endemic zone so as to be able to take effective preventive measures for malaria.