World Health Day hits home
By Ryan Haas
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| Chief Medical Officer for St. Kitts & Nevis, Dr. Patrick Martin |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Federation joins the world in celebrating World Health Day today April 7th, under the World Health Organization (WHO) theme “Protecting Health from Climate Change”.
World Health Day was first celebrated on April 7th, 1950 to raise “awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization,” and Dr. Patrick Martin, Chief Medical Officer for St. Kitts & Nevis has found this year’s theme of climate change to be especially important to the people of St. Kitts & Nevis.
In his annual World Health Day address, the CMO outlined how environmental health can affect the physical wellbeing and livelihood of a person.
“The spiritual, social, mental and physical health of the people and the nation are affected by the disruption of the economy, loss of property, injuries and loss of loved ones associated with climate change,” asserted Martin.
Martin stated that the rapidly changing global climate affects St. Kitts & Nevis by producing stronger hurricanes, raising sea and rain levels and causing periodic draughts that can trigger respiratory conditions. In addition to an increase in the occurrence of diseases like dengue fever and malaria, the C.M.O. said that climate change will make for arid land and less hospitable marine environments “making us [the Federation] more food-insecure and dependant on high-priced imports.”
“Climate Change is a real threat to the sustainable development of our nation,” Martin said of the multi-faceted problem, adding that there are practical solutions that the public can do to help. ~~Adz:Right~~
“Measures that have been proven to work include the design and construction of homes with hurricane wind speeds in mind,…the inclusion of cisterns…to store water for use during drought conditions, the elimination of mosquito breeding sites by keeping the environment free of litter and the elimination of automobile pollution by walking or cycling.”
Martin stated that many programs to counteract climate change are already in place, but more public involvement is required for them to be effective.
“Our health is our wealth; the environment is ours to use for sustainable development for our benefit and that of the generations to come,” concluded the Chief Medical Officer.
