The climate crisis is not just reshaping the agriculture sector. It is also threatening the health and survival of pregnant women, babies, and children. This was highlighted in a joint call for action by United Nations (UN) agencies ahead of the global Conference of the Parties (Cop28) negotiations on climate change in Dubai.
Entitled “Protecting maternal, newborn, and child health from the impacts of climate change,” the document emphasises the dire neglect, underreporting, and underestimation of climate events’ effects on maternal and child health.
Vulnerable groups urgently require acknowledgement
Shockingly, it reveals that few countries’ climate change response plans even acknowledge maternal or child health, exposing a substantial gap in addressing the needs of these vulnerable groups.
Bruce Aylward, assistant director general for universal health coverage: life course at the World Health Organisation (WHO), stressed, “Climate change poses an existential threat to all of us, but pregnant women, babies, and children face some of the gravest consequences of all.”
The year 2023 witnessed a barrage of devastating climate disasters, also in South Africa – from wildfires and floods to heatwaves and droughts, displacing populations, destroying crops and livestock, and exacerbating air pollution.
An increasingly warmer world has also led to the proliferation of deadly diseases like cholera, malaria, and dengue, disproportionately impacting pregnant women and children, for whom these infections pose severe risks.
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Early beginnings in the womb
Research findings indicate that the detrimental effects can begin even in the womb, resulting in pregnancy-related complications, preterm births, low birth weights, and stillbirths. For children, the repercussions can span a lifetime, affecting both physical and cognitive development.
Omar Abdi, Unicef deputy executive director for programmes, underscored, “Action on climate change often overlooks the unique vulnerabilities of children to pollution, diseases, and extreme weather. The climate crisis is imperilling every child’s fundamental right to health and well-being.”
The call for action outlines seven urgent steps to mitigate these escalating risks. These include sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, intensified climate finance measures, and the explicit incorporation of the needs of pregnant women, babies, and children within climate and disaster-related policies.
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The tip of the iceberg
Furthermore, the agencies advocate for increased research to comprehend better the impacts of climate change on maternal and child health.
Diene Keita, deputy executive director for programmes at UNFPA, emphasised, “To craft climate solutions that address the distinct health needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls, we must begin by asking the right questions. Global climate solutions must uphold gender equality rather than undermine it.”
The release of the call for action coincided with an online launch event, introducing an advocacy brief by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH). It offers tailored recommendations for various stakeholders, urging better integration of women, children, and adolescents’ health needs into climate policies, financing, and programmes.
Helen Clark, PMNCH board chair and former prime minister of New Zealand stressed, “Climate change represents a significant intergenerational injustice. Safeguarding the health and rights of women, children, and adolescents is non-negotiable in the face of this crisis.”
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