Mudanças climáticas e saúde pública: Uma reflexão com enfoque para Moçambique

Abstract

Climate change is an irrefutable reality and it is mainly caused by human actions (anthropogenic). These changes posit a serious threat to human health and the existence of other species on planet Earth. The manifestations of these changes occur at multiple sectors and at different levels. In health sector, the manifestations include the occurrence of psychosocial disturbances resulting from extreme climate events (drought, floods, cyclones, etc.); changes in occurrence profile of vector transmitted and water borne diseases (such as malaria and dengue fever, cholera and other diarrheal diseases) and of respiratory diseases (mainly those caused by air pollution such as asthma and other chronic non-transmissible respiratory diseases). Some of the effects of climate changes are already being felt in Mozambique and these include relatively frequent occurrences of extreme weather events such as heat and cold waves, flooding and drought. Despite not being one of the contributors to such global climate changes, Mozambique has been actively supporting all international initiatives and efforts to counter climate change.  Thus, this article intends to inform, in brief, about the impact of the climate change on human health. Further, the study pretends to encourage a reflection on the role of different sectors that could be involved in responding in a coordinated and timely manner to address the effects of climate change within in the   global context of Public Health in the country. The article could be of utility to raise the attention and the interest of academicians on the theme here presented and incentivise them to carry out research and  share experiences from diverse scientific background purposefully to contribute  to  a more effective control of the factors that favour the occurrence of climate change in our country and globally.