DOH: Global warming affects health

Global warming directly affects people's health, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.

Very high temperature causes skin cancer especially among the elderly, he stressed. Duque explained that global warming has caused damages to the ozone layer of the earth which filters ultraviolet rays. Exposure to these ultraviolet rays beyond tolerable amount causes heat stroke and skin cancer.

Dengue and malaria upsurge will also be apparent, he added. Most vulnerable to adverse health outcomes are indigent children and elderlies.

Throughout the world, the prevalence of some diseases and other threats to human health depends largely on local climate, Duque pointed out.

Climate change is one of the factors that influences the frequency and transmission of infectious diseases. Changes in the agents that transport infectious diseases - like mosquitoes, ticks and rodents - are likely to occur with any significant change in precipitation and temperature.

"Extreme temperatures can directly lead to loss of life, while climate-related disturbances in ecological systems, such as changes in the range of said infective pests and parasites, can indirectly impact the incidence of serious infectious diseases. In addition, warm temperatures can increase air and water pollution, which in turn harm human health," Duque explained.

Health outcomes in response to climate change become subject of intense debate. Climate change has the potential to influence the frequency and transmission of infectious diseases, alter heat-and-cold-related mortality and morbidity, and influence air and water quality.

Increases in mean temperature are expected to result in new record high temperatures and warm nights and an increase in the number of warm days compared to the present.

"It is imperative to protect the people against the adverse health outcomes related to climate change through a strong public health system, relatively high levels of public awareness and healthy living," Duque further said.

Already, there are some changes noticed in climatic conditions in the country. In Agusan for example, Duque said that rains are still experienced when the hot season should have already started by now. - Jasmin R. Uy