Download South Africa submision under NWP (Health)

SUBMISSION BY SOUTH AFRICA ON THE RECENT WORK IN THE AREA OF CLIMATE IMPACTS ON
HUMAN HEALTH, INCLUDING CHANGES IN GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF DISEASES, NEW AND
EMERGING HEALTH ISSUES
29 AUGUST 2016
1. CONTEXT
1.1 The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) during its forty fourth session, invited
Parties, Nairobi Work Programme partner organizations and other relevant organizations to submit information
on: their recent work in the area of climate impacts on human health, including changes in the geographical
distribution of diseases; new and emerging health issues, including tropical diseases and their impacts on
social and economic structures. Paragraph, 8a(i) of the conclusion by the chair further invite members to
covers the issues of malnutrition, waterborne diseases, vector-borne diseases and disaster impacts; and the
effects of climate change on health and productivity in the workplace, with implications for occupational health,
safety and social protection.
1.2 The impacts of climate change on human health are complex and include multiple pathways and interactions
within and across sectors. South Africa faces complex and pressing public health challenges. These
challenges are exacerbated by adverse socio-economic conditions that include dense informal settlements,
which constrain effective service delivery.
2. INFORMATION ON RECENT WORK BY SOUTH AFRICA
2.1 South Africa undertook the Long Term Adaptation Scenario (LTAS), Phase 1 in 2013 which summarizes key
climate change impacts and potential response options under key sectors including human health. The LTAS
will further inform key decision making in future adaptation planning. According to the LTAS, the Health risks
in South Africa that climate change would aggravate over the next few decades include heat stress; vectorborne diseases (such as malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever); extreme weather events; air pollution;
communicable diseases (such as HIV/AIDS, TB and cholera), and non-communicable diseases (such as
cardio-vascular and respiratory diseases). Climate change could also have deleterious effects on mental and
occupational health, and its adverse impacts would be worsened by food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition.
2.2 Increases in average temperatures and extreme events (such as heat waves) are projected to induce heat
stress, increase morbidity, and result in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. South Africa experienced
heat waves impacts with associated casualties in 2015 and early 2016.
2.3 Over time, a changing climate would lead to changes in the distribution of vectors of disease such as
mosquitoes and ticks. This may change the distribution of diseases like malaria and Lyme disease (tick bite
fever). However, malaria has been shown to be strongly impacted by non-climatic factors such as land use,
control measures, and socio-economic, demographic and vulnerability information.
2.4 Climate change is expected to increase the frequency, duration and intensity of droughts and high
temperatures and increase rainfall variability in many areas. This would affect food systems, compromising
food availability, access and utilization, leading to food insecurity. South Africa have experienced prolonged
lower than normal rainfall in the year 2015 and early 2016 with reduced production of agricultural yields such
as maize and livestock production. The drought conditions resulted in the state of declaration in 8 provinces
with the exception of Gauteng Province.
2.5 The frequency and intensity of natural disasters (e.g. flood, storms, drought and fire) is likely to increase in
certain areas of South Africa as a result of climate change. Health impacts from natural disasters can be
immediate (e.g. death), long-term (e.g. food insecurity/unavailability linked to impacts on agricultural
production such as crop yields), direct (e.g. injuries as a result of a landslide) or indirect (e.g. changing vector
abundance through habitat destruction or creation), and are difficult to project with the current knowledge
base. Social support mechanisms as well as the availability of basic social services greatly influence the effect
of extreme weather events on communities.
2.6 Non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases (asthma and bronchitis), are
the leading cause of death in South Africa. Climate change will impact non-communicable diseases directly
(e.g. by increasing temperatures and air pollution concentrations) and indirectly (e.g. by adversely impacting
agricultural yields and resulting in food insecurity).
2.7 The transmission of communicable diseases in South Africa is related to rainfall, temperature and wind. Non-
climatic factors such as water insecurity, lack of proper sanitation and population density also influence
cholera transmissions. Cholera is a well-known example of a communicable, diarrhoeal and water-borne
disease in South Africa. The transmission of cholera is linked to rainfall and temperature (air and sea surface)
and, as such, it is likely that it will be affected by climate change-induced changes in rainfall and temperature
regimes.
2.8 The Department of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), is developing the
vulnerability assessment of the health sector in South Africa. This, include vulnerability and risk assessments
of specific diseases to climate change, and impact modelling (including consideration of non-climatic factors)
to determine risk factors and health impacts which need to be addressed through adaptation. Improved data
and enhanced access to data would allow for high-quality surveillance of diseases and risk factors to ensure
successful adaptation planning.
2.9 The national Department of Health developed the national Climate Change and Health Adaptation Plan which
outlined broader programme of activities to be undertaken or spearheaded by the South African health sector.
The plan further facilitate effective management of inevitable climate change impacts on health through
intervention that build and sustain South Africa‘s socio-economic and environmental resilient and emergency
response capacity.
Additional information on South Africa’s Long Term Adaptation Scenarios is available here:
https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/human_health_bookV5.pdf