Fiji prone to adverse health

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Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Dainius Puras (left)speaks to the media as deputy representative of the Regional Office for the Pacific of the United Nations Office of the Commissioner for the Human Rights, Thomas Hunecke looks on during a press conference at Kadavu House in Suva on Thursday, December 05, 2019. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU

CLIMATE change negatively affects the determinants of health, such as clean air, safe sufficient water and food source, says UN special rapporteur on the right to health Dainius Puras.

Speaking during a press conference in Suva yesterday, he said Fiji was vulnerable to adverse health impacts of climate change for its small geographical size and exposure to extreme climate events.

“But it also has direct impacts on human health including injury, disease, and death from extreme heat and cold, cyclones, floods and droughts,” Mr Puras said.

“In direct impacts include increases in vector-borne, waterborne, cardiovascular, respiratory and renal diseases and psycho-social impacts from the increase in the range and number of disease spreading vectors, compromised food and water sources, livelihood looses and population displacement.”

In recent years, he said, there had been a wide range of issues emerging from problems created by climate change, climate induced mobility and the presence of the world’s first climate change refugees.

Mr Puras had the opportunity to visit health facilities across the country, meet government officials and civil society representatives this week. He is also expected to compile a report about his visit to Fiji.

He said Government was on par with improving health services across the country.

“Fiji has developed capacity to rapidly provide health assistance in events of disaster.”

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