A new World Bank Group report launched late Tuesday said the impact of climate change has imposed health and food security risks on Ghana.
The Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment (CHVA) for Ghana report said the evidence established a linkage between heavier rainfalls, floods, humidity, and warmer temperatures in the country and the spread of malaria and other diseases.
Climate change in Ghana is causing extreme weather events like floods and droughts, deepening Ghana’s exposure to illnesses like malaria and diarrhea diseases, according to the report.
The CHVA report also pointed out that the elderly, youth, and children had become more vulnerable to the increasing health issues related to heat, air pollution, and infectious diseases.
According to the report, the increased heat and expanded rates of infectious diseases have exposed at least 2.0 million people to the risk of death.
“Also, 453,000 people are facing food insecurity in Ghana, with 2.0 million more at risk, and any natural disaster could worsen the situation, especially in the northern regions,” it added.
It added that decreased rainfall and increased temperatures have been the major characteristics of Ghana’s climate over the past 50 years.
The report noted that these developments led to 22 major climate events, including droughts, floods, wildfires, and storms, affecting millions over the past 50 years.
“The CHVA report will contribute to the development of climate-resilient health systems in Ghana,” Mawuli Dzodzomenyo, the lead author of the report, said in his presentation
Dzodzomenyo, who is also the Head of the Biological, Environmental, and Occupational Health Department at the School of Public Health of the University of Ghana, said he expected decision-makers to identify areas for improvement and allocate resources effectively to tackle adaptation and mitigation.
In his remarks, Robert Taliercio, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, said the World Bank’s focus is on producing such reports because they would help to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity through the promotion of a habitable planet.
“A healthy population is the cornerstone of prosperity. Therefore, implementing adaptation and mitigation measures is crucial not only to address current challenges but also to prevent further adversities,” Taliercio stated.
He lauded the government of Ghana for taking the lead in thinking about the potential impacts of climate change on health, “and we encourage further work across sectors on this important challenge.” Ghana has experienced severe heat and dust waves since December. Accordingly, the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Meteorological Agency have encouraged the population to take various precautionary measures to protect themselves from the related health hazards.