Public health hazards increase in BD: Study

Public health in Bangladesh is being seriously affected by climate change through disasters like drought, flood and cyclone, destroying land, damaging health facilities and harming people, reveals a new report.
According to the report, a 46-per cent increase in extreme weather events is evident in Bangladesh.
In 2021, the summer season experienced a rise of 0.49°C, causing infants to face 12 additional heatwave days and lead to higher heat-related deaths.
A 148-per cent surge in heat-related fatalities among individuals aged 65 and above, resulted in 1,430 deaths during the 2017-2021 period.
The report, released by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, and the Centre for Climate Change Economics, highlighted these issues on Wednesday.
Moreover, climate changes are increasing disease vectors, as evident in the 2022 surge in dengue cases linked to high rainfall and temperature in Dhaka.
Dengue outbreaks are expected to worsen due to favourable climate conditions boosting mosquito populations in Bangladesh.
Additionally, climate change is impacting mental health, contributing to conditions like anxiety and depression.
The study shows food insecurity in Bangladesh is projected to rise by 7.4 percentage points by 2041-2060.
It cited that the country is known for remarkable healthcare and developmental progress, but climate change is eroding these achievements.
The study, authored by Lauren O'Leary, Shouro Dasgupta and Professor Elizabeth JZ Robinson, also highlighted Bangladesh, consistently ranking among the worst countries for air pollution, seeing high mortality rates due to respiratory infections, lung cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
"Shockingly, the death toll from ambient air pollution reached 101,500 in 2019 and 112,700 in 2020."
Air pollution is high in both rural and urban areas. Around 24,000 people in the Dhaka region alone were estimated to have died prematurely due to air pollution between 2005 and 2018.
Additionally, women and children are more likely to be exposed to indoor air pollution because only 23 per cent of the population has access to clean cooking fuels.
Dr Shouro Dasgupta, visiting senior fellow of Grantham Research Institute, London School of Economics (LSE), said: "Climate change threatens to reverse decades of Bangladesh's remarkable progress in public health, especially in child and maternal health."
"Evidence-based policies that take into account local context can reduce many of these negative effects."
Professor Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, chairman, Department of Environmental Science at Stamford University Bangladesh and also chairman, Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), said: "Local heatwave drivers are influencing the upward trend of Global Climate Change."
"Due to this the number, intensity and extent of heat waves are increasing, on the other hand, the use of fossil fuels is accelerating both rising temperatures and air pollution and creating multifaceted risks for public health."
The report highlighted those earlier policies like the Health and Population Sector Program (HPSP) focused on healthcare improvements without addressing climate change explicitly.
The initial National Health Policy (NHP) from 2000 lacked comprehensive support for chronic diseases, potentially reducing resilience to climate-induced heatwaves.
The 2011 NHP saw revisions but no significant shift in focus. Bangladesh's healthcare system faces inequality issues, with disparities in health indicators among wealthy and deprived households.
Prof Dr Iqbal Kabir, director, of the Climate Change and Health Promotion Unit, at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said climate is a big public health crisis for Bangladesh.
Climate change is already taking a heavy toll on the health of millions across the Globe, from extreme weather events to air pollution and the increased prevalence of climate-sensitive diseases.

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