Review of Climate Change and Health in Ethiopia: Status and Gap Analysis

Authors

  • Belay Simane
  • Hunachew Beyene
  • Wakgari Deressa
  • Abera Kumie
  • Kiros Berhane
  • Jonathan Samet

Abstract

Abstract Background: This review assessed Ethiopia’s existing situation in the environment, climate change and health, and identifies gaps and needs that can be addressed through research, training, and capacity building. Methods: The research was conducted through conducting a comprehensive review of available secondary data and interviewing key informants in various national organizations involved in climate change adaptation and mitigation activities. Results: Climate change-related health problems, such as mortality and morbidity (due to floods and heat waves), vector-borne diseases, water-borne diseases, meningitis, and respiratory diseases (due to air pollution) are increasing in Ethiopia. Sensitive systems such as agriculture, health, and water have been affected. The effects of climate change will also continue to be felt unless steps are taken towards adapting the right mitigation measures. Currently, research on climate change and health is not adequately developed in Ethiopia. Research and other activities appear to be fragmented and uncoordinated. As a result, very few spatially detailed and methodologically consistent studies have been made to assess the impact of climate in the country. There has often been a lack of sufficient collaboration among organizations on the planning and execution of climate change and health activities. A similar lack is also observed in trained skill to perform climate change and health-related research activities at various levels. Conclusion: Firstly, there is a lack of organized structure in the various organizations. Secondly, there is inadequate level of inter-sectoral collaboration and poor coordination and communication among different stakeholders. Thirdly, there are no reliable policy guidelines and programs among organizations, agencies and offices that target climate change and health. All seem to be functioning independently. Fourth, the existing policies fail to consider the gender and community-related dimensions of climate change. Fifth, the monitoring and evaluation efforts exerted on climate change and health activities are not strong enough to address the climate change and health issues in the country. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2015;29(Special Issue):5-18]

Downloads

Published

2020-12-26

How to Cite

Simane, B., Beyene, H., Deressa, W., Kumie, A., Berhane, K., & Samet, J. (2020). Review of Climate Change and Health in Ethiopia: Status and Gap Analysis. The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 21(1). Retrieved from https://ejhd.org/index.php/ejhd/article/view/349

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 4 > >>