Climate change and global warming are amongst the gravest challenges that face mankind today. Climate change refers to the significant change in weather pattern distribution over long periods of time. Global warming is one of the manifestations of climate change. Global warming refers to the rising average temperature on the earth’s atmosphere. Climate change and global warming are major concerns because of their negative consequences that adversely affect human life. For instance, scientists have often attributed the emergence of various infectious diseases on climate change and global warming. On this vein, this paper evaluates an editorial by Professor Iftikhar Ahmed that discusses the impact of climate change on emergance and re-emergance infectious diseases
In his editorial, Professor Iftikhar (2011) laments that climate change has propelled diseases such as dengue, malaria as well as a host of other water borne maladies to unprecedented levels. This is because climate change and global warming interfere with the climate and weather patterns that characterize a region. This has caused multiplication and increased rates of viral propagation and parasites, consequently increasing rate of infections and transmissions of these life threatening maladies.
The future rate of transmission of communicable and chronic diseases heavily relies on how all stakeholders tackle this menace. As a result, the author of the editorial calls upon all parties concerned to combine their expertise and professional knowledge to ensure that they design measures and policies that would counter the spread of communicable diseases. The author rightfully notes that it is possible to reduce human contact with factors that are responsible for the spread of these emerging diseases. He argues that, deforestation is one of the main causes of emergence infectious diseases because it shortens the distance between man and wild animals. This has led to increased cases certain infectious diseases including; Malaria, Yellow fever and Lassa fever. Rural urban migration is another critical factor that needs to be considered if infectious diseases are to be controlled. In most developed countries, diseases such as diarrhea were almost eliminated because of increased hygiene and construction of better housing systems. However, in most developing countries, the influx of people into cities is unregulated. This leads to the emergence of shantytowns because of poor housing systems, overcrowding, poor sanitation and unsafe water and food. This has led to a new outbreak of re-emerging diseases including; Lyme disease, internal parasites, diarrhea and ARI.
In order to successfully manage the adverse effects of climate change and global warming, it is vital that all nations and states prioritize the mitigation of the causes of climate change. This will have to start by educating the public on the causes as well as the effects of global warming and climate change. Public opinion will subsequently push political will in the country’s political leadership. Once the political leadership of any country has been convinced, it will be easy to acquire resources that will facilitate pulling of experts together to address these concerns. In addition, business corporations also have a social responsibility to conserve the environment. Similarly, International public health organization such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Public Health Foundation (PHF) should be at the forefront to coordinate, organize and facilitate conferences of experts to design counter measures to handle global warming and climate change.
References
Iftikhar , A. (2011). The Impact of Climate Change on the Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases: Global Perspective. Department of Microbiology, Editorial, Enam Medical College.
World Health Organization. (2009). Global health risks: mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks. World Health Organization.
