Climate-resilient health facilities

Climate resilient health care facilities are capable of anticipating, responding to, coping with, recovering from and adapting to climate-related shocks and stresses, says Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete.

Quoting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of Climate Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Health Care Facilities (CRESHCF), he said he was confident the target of building climate resilience into Fiji’s healthcare system could be met.

“WHO defines Climate Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Health Care Facilities as ‘those capable to anticipate, respond to, cope with, recover from and adapt to climate-related shocks and stresses, while minimising negative impacts on the environment and leveraging opportunities to restore and improve it, so as to bring ongoing and sustained health care to their target population and protect the health and wellbeing of future generations’,” he said.

He said the guidelines were an initiative of the ministry to provide information on building CRESHCFs, and support Fiji’s efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen climate resiliency and environmental sustainability.

“The process of developing this document involved extensive consultation with WHO technical support.”