Second National Communications
Ebi.et. Al in 2006, came up with a seven point plan for assessing human health vulnerability to adapt to
climate change as a way of a framework for adaptation that we can adopt in order for us to formulate
our own health assessment matrix.
Assessing Human Health Vulnerability and Public Health Interventions
to Adapt to Climate Change26
a) Determine the scope of the assessment;
b) Describe the current distribution and burden of climate-sensitive health determinants and outcomes;
c) Identify and describe current strategies, policies, and measures designed to reduce the burden of climate-sensitive
health determinants and outcomes;
d) review the health implications of the potential impacts of climate variability and change in other sectors;
e) estimate the future potential health impacts using scenarios of future changes in climate, socioeconomic, and
other factors;
f) synthesize the results; and
g) identify additional adaptation policies and measures to reduce potential negative health impacts.
An initial working matrix flowchart was developed for this second national communications assessment
for health and climate change. The major health vulnerability of climate sensitive disease potential was
the one utilized for purposes of better data availability.
Climate Change and Health V&A Assessment Flowchart
Step 1
Identify/screen Health
Vulnerability in area/community
§
Presence of Diseases
(determine climate
sensitivity; consider
epidemic potential)
Ø
Consider number of
cases, occurrence
of disease
§
Step 2
Conduct analysis
(Quantitative/ Qualitative)
§
Utilize sentinel sites
NESSS/MET for weather
parameters
§
Focused Group
Discussions/KII
Step 3
Identify action to be taken
Step 4
Evaluate and feedback
Preventive (adaptation)
over curative (mitigation)
parameters
§
Prioritize measures
Ø
Efficiency versus
effectiveness
Ø
Cost/Timeframe
§
I.e. Information
drives/mass screening, smearing
for febrile people, fast lane for
Dengue
§
Policy formulation for
health impactsclimate change
compliance /resilience
§
§
§
§
Utilize statistical analysis and
correlate adaptation measure
Identify indicators of success
(intermediate and long term)
Refine flowchart to incorporate
other factors (i.e. socioeconomic)
Availability of response
mechanisms
Ø
health
infrastructure
(human and
financial/infra –
health
centers/hospitals
26
An Approach for Assessing Human Health Vulnerability and Public Health Interventions to Adapt to Climate Change:Kristie L.
Ebi, R. Sari Kovats and Bettina Menne, Environ Health Perspect 114:1930–1934 (2006). doi:10.1289/ehp.8430 available
viahttp://dx.doi.org/ [Online 11 July 2006]
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