PS Muthoni: 'Let's transform research into action to mitigate climate change'

The 3rd International Health and Climate Change Conference begun at the Machakos International Convention Centre on Wednesday with a view to transforming research into action in order to address climate change.

The conference organised by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri), Global Health Research Unit, Amref, World Health Organisation (WHO), University of Liverpool ,and the Kingdom of Netherlands in conjunction with the County Government of Machakos, draws participants from various governmental and non-governmental organisations as well as the academia.

Speaking at the opening of the three-day workshop, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said climate change is becoming a visible reality in Kenya with rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and extreme weather conditions are becoming life-threatening.

According to WHO, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths annually between 2030-2050 worldwide.

Ms Muthoni said climate change and health are intertwined and there was need to act urgently to transform research into action.

She said Kenya was at the edge of implementing the COP 28 agenda set in 2023 in Egypt.

Through the provision of Universal Healthcare Cover as contained in the Primary Healthcare Act 2023 and the Social Health Assurance (SHA) Act 2023, the PS said the government is in the process of safeguarding the citizens' health and livelihoods in the face of increasing diseases caused by climate change.

Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, who represented Governor Wavinya Ndeti at the conference, said in recent times Machakos County has been experiencing erratic weather patterns and frequent heatwaves which are further putting vulnerable populations at risk.

He said heat-related illnesses such as dehydration are becoming more common among the elderly, children, and those with chronic health conditions and weakened immunity.

"Food shortage, due to increased crop failure and massive livestock loses as a result of drought is continuously limiting the diet options for our people, posing the risk of malnutrition among children and the elderly," said Mr Mwangangi.

He called for enhanced financing towards mitigation of climate change to safeguard health and livelihoods.

“The County Government of Machakos is fencing off water dams, digging boreholes and refining water for domestic consumption at the drawing points to reduce the risks of waterborne diseases,” the DG said.

Some key achievements in the area of addressing climate change by the County Government which he noted include implementation of the Machakos County Climate Change Amendment Act 2022, development of the Machakos County Climate Change Action plan 2023-2027 involving the rehabilitation of water catchment areas, construction of 174 new earth dams, and rehabilitation of 407 earth dams and water pans.