Download 19 މެއި 2014

World Health Assembly (WHA)
Statement by H.E. Dr Mariyam Shakeela, Minister of Health and
Gender, Maldives
May 14 2014
Theme - Climate and health
Mr president, honorable ministers, excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and
gentlemen.
I am very privileged to address this assembly on a topic that is extremely close to
my heart. At various international fora, on behalf of small Island Development
states, Maldives has been voicing out its concern on the need to combat the effects
of climate change for many decades. One such attempt led Maldives in 2008, to
initiate discussions and succeed in adopting a resolution on health protection from
climate change at the 61st World Health Assembly with support from SIDS and
Africa.
Mr president and excellencies
Maldives, barely one and a half meters above sea level, with less than 2% of the
country as usable land, has been victimised constantly threatening its biodiversity,
food and water security, health and well-being, livelihood of its 365,00 people and
their mere existence. The same is true for many SIDS and our regional partners.
In the recent years unpredictable extreme climatic events in our region is
disastrous. While trans-boundary movement of pollutants contribute to air
pollution, frequency and savagery of storms, flooding and salt water intrusions into
our ground fresh water lens, and contamination from damaged septic tanks renders
our water unfit for use with ground water showing fecal coliform at 100%.
Extreme heat is causing numerous health issues increasing incidence of vector
bourne disease outbreaks, aggravating many existing diseases, introducing new
pests and pathogens making climate change a major health concern in Maldives.
Epidemiological data shows changes in the seasonal nature of these diseases, such
as dengue fever, and chikungunya continuing to increase in morbidity and
mortality. Some of the diseases such as Scrub Typhus which was first recorded in
Maldives in 1944 remerged in 2002 and continues to be prevalent.
Mr president and excellencies
Given our regions vulnerability to climate change, the increasing evidence that link
Non-communicable diseases’s to Climate change, is alarming, especially when
70% of deaths in Maldives accounts for NCD’s with cardiovascular diseases,
kidney diseases, diabetes, cancers and liver diseases accounted as the leading
causes of death in Maldives. Due to increasing pollution both from within and
trans boundary are causing respiratory related diseases. Maldives record the
highest mortality from NCD’s in our region. Epidemiological and demographic
transitions to NCD’s and an ageing population affect productivity and consume
large amount of resources, and thus, continue to test our health systems. While
NCD risk factors are being addressed through comprehensive programs including
preventive and curative services, our efforts are limited by resource availability.
Despite numerous challenges Maldives has achieved remarkably well. We are
proud to note that we are the only MDG+ country in the South East Asia region
having attained 5 out 8 MDG targets and boasting remarkable progress to achieve
the remaining three. Many of the life threatening communicable diseases have
been controlled in the Maldives. Yet, relentless climate events remind us that we
cannot be complacent. Recent milestone of 400ppm of atmospheric co2 warns us
that we are heading towards disaster zone at an alarming pace signalling danger.
Yet few people are aware that the resulting varied consequences are dramatically
affecting children, the elderly, those with underlying health conditions, the poor
and marginalized people, creating many psychosocial issues of immense
proportions, reinforcing existing vulnerabilities and deepening inequalities.
Increasingly, directly or indirectly extreme climate events are being considered as
one of the most serious public health threats, and perhaps as the world’s most
fearsome weapon of mass destruction, warning us and compelling us to act.
Given our vulnerability and almost total dependency on imports, an unhealthy
reliance on expatriate workforce, logistical difficulties to service 188 odd scattered
health facilities, across oceans offsets our middle income status. Thus exclusion
from ODA, Global Fund and GAVI support and other financial assistance threatens
the progress we have made. We require support to combat, emerging vector borne
diseases, NCD’s and achieve universal health coverage , fight anti microbial
resistance, develop integrated health information system and deal with other social
ills.
Mr president, Excellencies
Years of scientific research and academic work has made us believe beyond doubt
that environmental challenges are complex and can't be understood in isolation.
For example, although Arctic and Maldives may lie many thousands of miles away,
what happens in the Artic does not stop at its borders and raises concerns for
Maldives. Although we may not hear it, or see it, when a lone glacier melts into the
sea, we do feel its effects given the potential sea level rise and global warming. It
has devastating effects on all of us. Mother Nature transcends all national borders.
Excellencies,
I would also like to reiterate the importance of generating further and more
conclusive evidence of the linkages between climate on human health; and build
climate resilient health systems. Health is not only vital to sustainable development
but health is a beneficiary of and a contributor to development and an integral part
of human well-being. It is also a key gauge of what people-centred, rights-based,
inclusive, and equitable development seeks to achieve. Therefore, it is crucial to
ensure that Health and well-being is placed at the centre of the climate debate,
SDG’s and post 2015 development agenda, to generate an appropriate public health
response before it too late. To day humans as the most prolific mammal on planet
endowed with powerful technologies and provided by an insatiable craving for
progress have become such a powerful geological force, that their web of life has
played a critical role in changing the physical, chemical and biological features of
the planet contributing to its distruction.
Before I conclude, I sincerely hope that WHA’s discussion on climate change and
health gives a strong signal and a firm direction to implement proper planning,
strategic partnerships, further strengthen political and global commitment, ensure
sustainability and safeguard our environment and our health. With heartfelt thanks
to WHO, our regional office for continued support.
Thank you
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