Dr Shigeru Omi, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific, warned: ”We have now reached a critical stage in which global warming has already seriously impacted lives and health, and this problem will pose an even greater threat to mankind in coming decades, if we fail to act now.”

The  WHO estimated that climate change directly or indirectly contributed to about 77,000 deaths annually in Asia and the Pacific in a recent study. The reported number of deaths is about half of the world’s total attributed to climate change.

Today International experts conclude their meeting where the threat to health posed by global warming in the Asia Pacific region was the discussion. With global mean temperature forecast to increase by as much as six degrees Celsius by the end of the century, delegates have been urged to take steps now to face the problem.

Among the potential effects of global warming would be the appearance of mosquitoes where they were previously absent, with the accompanying threat of malaria and dengue fever. Some regions might be at risk of reduced rainfall, causing a shortage of fresh water and introducing the danger of waterborne diseases. Millions of people could be at risk of malnutrition and hunger if arable lands become unworkable.

Representatives were told that the increasing frequency of summer heat waves in temperate zones (Europe in 2003 and Asia in 2004), typhoons, hurricanes and floods throughout the world are signs of changing weather and climate patterns.

The workshop, which had been organized by WHO Regional Offices for South- East Asia and the Western Pacific, in collaboration with WHO headquarters in Geneva were attended by representatives of 14 countries, as well as by WHO partners in the environmental field.

The workshop was held at the Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur Hotel. Key findings from this workshop will be shared at the forthcoming ministerial meeting on environment and health in Bangkok on  the 8th and 9th of August. It will be attended by Ministers of Health and Environment from 14 countries in the South-East and East Asia regions.

Source for this post: World Health Organization

For more information, please contact:

Dr Hisashi Ogawa
WHO Regional Adviser in Healthy Settings and Environment
Tel:   +632-528-9886
Email: ogawah@wpro.who.int

Contact: Dr Hisashi Ogawa of WHO Regional Adviser in Healthy Settings
and Environment, +632-528-9886, or ogawah@wpro.who.int

Web site: http://www.who.int/

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