ADDIS ABABA September 03, 2024 (EPHI) - The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), held a half-day seminar last Friday on Climate Change and Health aimed at directing efforts toward mitigating the impacts of climate change on public health.
Welcoming guests, Dr. Masresha Tessema, the Director of the Nutrition, Environmental Health, and Non-communicable Disease Research Directorate at the EPHI, stated that challenges of climate change are among the contributing factors that affect the food security and public health initiatives. Thus, it is believed that the seminar would serve as a favorable forum for discussion, idea exchange, knowledge sharing, and the strengthening of partnerships that can play pivotal roles in alleviating climate change-related public health hazards in Ethiopia.
Dr. Masresha further said that Seminar participants drawn from EPHI, NIPH, NORAD, the federal Ministry of Health (MoH) and others would gain a lot from the presentations, which are mostly ongoing research analysis.
The organizing body of the seminar indicated in a released document that the event was intended to showcase the current climate change and health-related work and efforts underway in each EPHI thematic area, including Research, Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM), and the National Data Management Center (NDMC). The seminar was reportedly aimed at establishing a twinning arrangement with the NIPH and NORAD to facilitate coordinated efforts toward mitigating the impacts of climate change on public health.
Young and senior researchers from EPHI, MoH, and NIPH presented study papers on various subjects. Dr. Adugna Woyessa, a senior researcher at EPHI, presented on EPHI’s Climate and Health Knowledge Hub strategies. In his research analysis, he raised how Ethiopia “faces significant climate-related challenges that directly influence public health outcomes, how changes in temperature and precipitation patterns affect the country and burden a verity of climate-sensitive health risks”.
The second presenter, Daniel Abera from EPHI, touched on the effects of heat stress on child weight. He also briefed about anemia, stunting, and wasting in preschool-age children based on the outcomes from the National Food and Nutrition Strategy Baseline Survey of Ethiopia.
Abel W/Tinsae of EPHI discussed the effects of heat stress on gestational periods and fetal development. He also gave analysis on household cooking stoves and energy sources in Ethiopia and the results of the ongoing multiple micronutrient and national water hygiene and sanitation survey.
Ashrafedin Youya from MoH presented his analysis virtually on Climate Change and Health Status in Ethiopia. Ashrafedin mentioned in the course of his presentation about the activities that have been accomplished so far under the Ministry of Health.
The next presenter was Dr. Sisay Wondaye from PHEM/EPHI. Dr. Sisay discussed a tool for early detection and response of potential public health threats. He further indicated in his analysis about early warning, alert, and response systems about Ethiopia’s relative health vulnerability index by sub-national regions.
Dr. Eleni Papadopoulou and Dr. Sonja Myhre from NIPH had their presentation on Building and Strengthening Climate Resilient Health Systems in Low-and Middle-Income Country Contexts. They covered issues such as building on the scientific foundation, key strategies for climate resilient health system, and service delivery, among other takeaways.
Following the presentations, questions, comments, and suggestions were forwarded from participants.
In closing the seminar, Dr. Adugna Woyessa recommended establishing a Climate Change and Knowledge Translation Hub at EPHI to consolidate the efforts that have been exerted sporadically. He emphasized that EPHI is committed to playing a key role in establishing the Hub.
A total of 34 participants attended the seminar held at the premises of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute. (EPHI)
