Climate change threatens healthcare systems in the Global South by impacting energy infrastructure, leading to reduced service quality. Resilience solutions, including diversified clean energy sources and improved energy planning, can enhance energy security for healthcare. This study uses data from Kenya, India, and Barbados to illustrate these challenges and provides actionable recommendations for improvement.
Climate change significantly threatens public health systems in the Global South, particularly by affecting the energy infrastructure of healthcare facilities. Climate-related shocks often lead to unmet energy needs, which subsequently diminish the quality and volume of healthcare services. Without a reliable energy supply, healthcare facilities struggle to function optimally, resulting in dire consequences for public health outcomes.
To mitigate these challenges, various resilience solutions are available to secure sustainable energy for healthcare facilities despite climate risks. These include enhancing grid-supplied electricity resilience, utilizing diversified and decentralized clean energy sources, implementing energy-efficient technologies, and improving health facility energy planning and operations. The effectiveness of these measures will vary based on the specific energy infrastructure risks faced by each country and healthcare facility.
This study examines the climate-related impacts on healthcare energy systems in Kenya, India, and Barbados, highlighting the strain faced by facilities in these distinct nations. It provides an analytical perspective on how climate events disrupt energy supply and affect the healthcare sector’s operational capacity. The study concludes with three actionable suggestions for stakeholders involved in enhancing energy security for healthcare in the Global South.
The interplay between climate change and public health underscores a critical vulnerability in the Global South, where energy infrastructure for healthcare is often fragile. Extreme weather events and climate shocks pose significant risks to the continuity and reliability of energy supply, essential for effective healthcare delivery. Understanding these risks is paramount for developing targeted interventions to bolster resilience in healthcare systems amidst increasing climate variability.
The relationship between climate resilience and healthcare delivery in the Global South is paramount, as disruptions to energy infrastructure have profound implications for public health. By adopting targeted resilience solutions, stakeholders can enhance the reliability of energy supply for healthcare facilities. Ultimately, taking proactive measures to address climate risks will lead to improved healthcare outcomes across affected nations.
Original Source: www.seforall.org
