Health Ministry and Asian Development Bank Conclude Climate and Health Solutions Conclave in India
The second day of the Climate and Health Solutions (CHS) India Conclave, co-hosted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), concluded successfully in New Delhi. The two-day event focused on the urgent intersection of climate change and public health in India, bringing together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to develop actionable strategies for the health sector.
Key Discussions and Roundtables
The conclave featured a series of insightful roundtables on critical issues such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental health, nutrition, climate-ready healthcare, human resources, blended finance for climate-health initiatives, digital technologies, and the development of climate-resilient health systems and infrastructure.
Climate Resilient Health Systems
A highlight of Day 2 was a roundtable on ‘Climate Resilient and Responsive Health Systems and Infrastructure,’ chaired by representatives from 19 states and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. This session emphasized the need for adaptive infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events.
Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health
Dr. Cherian Varghese discussed the impact of climate change on non-communicable diseases, particularly in the context of the Kerala floods. Dr. Naveen Kumar C highlighted the mental health implications, while Dr. Bhuvaneswari Balasubramanian from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) spoke on the integration of climate change and nutrition.
Blended Finance for Climate-Health Initiatives
Jaya Singh from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office discussed the role of government in establishing regulations for private sector investors in climate and health. Himanshu Sikka from Pahal Samridh highlighted the disparity in climate finance allocation, noting that only 0.5% of international climate finance goes to health.
Innovations and Future Plans
The conclave showcased innovations such as a Climate Risk Observatory Tool for heat and health mapping, and technologies from Pluss Technologies, Blackfrog Technologies, and Redwings for climate-resilient health infrastructure. The event concluded with a workshop on climate and health transformation, led by senior government officials and ADB representatives.
In his closing remarks, Apurva Chandra, Secretary of MoHFW, expressed gratitude to all participants and emphasized the importance of integrating climate-conscious thinking into health policies. Going forward, ADB and MoHFW will publish an outcome document detailing the key topics and activities that will inform future climate and health action plans in India.
LS Changsan and Latha Ganapathy from MoHFW, along with Ayako Inagaki and Dr. Dinesh Arora from ADB, lauded the conclave as a turning point in India’s health sector and a precedent for climate and health initiatives across Asia and the Pacific.
Doubts Revealed
Health Ministry -: The Health Ministry is a part of the government that takes care of health-related issues and policies in the country.
Asian Development Bank -: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an organization that helps countries in Asia by giving them money and advice to improve their economies and living conditions.
Climate and Health Solutions Conclave -: A conclave is a big meeting. The Climate and Health Solutions Conclave is a meeting where people talk about how climate change affects our health and what we can do about it.
New Delhi -: New Delhi is the capital city of India where many important government buildings and offices are located.
non-communicable diseases -: Non-communicable diseases are illnesses that cannot be spread from one person to another, like diabetes or heart disease.
mental health -: Mental health is about how we think, feel, and behave. It includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
nutrition -: Nutrition is about eating the right kinds of food so our bodies can grow and stay healthy.
climate-resilient health systems -: Climate-resilient health systems are healthcare services that can still work well even when the weather and climate change.
adaptive infrastructure -: Adaptive infrastructure means buildings and systems that can change and adjust to new conditions, like extreme weather caused by climate change.
innovative funding models -: Innovative funding models are new and creative ways to get money to pay for projects and programs.
Dr. Cherian Varghese -: Dr. Cherian Varghese is a doctor who is an expert in health and works on important health projects.
Dr. Naveen Kumar C -: Dr. Naveen Kumar C is another doctor who helps with health-related work and research.
Jaya Singh -: Jaya Singh is a person who also spoke at the meeting and is involved in health and climate work.