The probable impacts of climate change on poverty - UNDP

6.8.1 Impacts <strong>of</strong> Climate Change on Health- Perception
Human health suffers from different climatic variability and shocks in different ways. <strong>The</strong> experts informed that
health is affected, especially during and after shocks like flood and cyclone. Slow onsets <strong>of</strong> climatic system have
also <strong>impacts</strong> on health. Flood affects sources <strong>of</strong> drinking water and sanitation system through contamination
which lead to out break <strong>of</strong> diarrhoea, cholera, skin diseases including scabies, drowning, snake bite and even
death. Cyclone, sea level rise and salinity intrusion cause outbreaks <strong>of</strong> diarrhoea, cholera and other water borne
diseases, use <strong>of</strong> saline water causes hypertension, increase blood pressure, corrosive effects due to salt in air,
scabies and other skin diseases. Besides that, drought, erratic rainfall and temperature variation increase vector
borne diseases, heat stroke, malnutrition, fever etc. Cold wave creates respiratory problem, especially that <strong>of</strong>
children and the old.
It is already proven that different types <strong>of</strong> diseases breakout during and after flood. In future, these <strong>impacts</strong> will
be more frequent and severe since intensity and frequency <strong>of</strong> flood will increase. Similarly, cyclone and storm
surge will affect human health and lives severely with the increasing intensity and frequency <strong>of</strong> cyclone. Besides
this, temperature variation, erratic rainfall will increase incidence <strong>of</strong> vector borne diseases like dengue, malaria.
Lack <strong>of</strong> fresh water in drought prone and coastal areas will increase malnutrition, extreme poverty, bring <strong>change</strong>s
in occupation, increase migration etc. <strong>The</strong> following table shows the level <strong>of</strong> <strong>impacts</strong> on health and subsequently
on poverty and economic growth.
Table 6.12 Level <strong>of</strong> Impacts <strong>of</strong> Climate Change on Health
Key issues
Health
Level <strong>of</strong> Impacts
Poverty Economic Growth
Present Future Present Future Present Future
Flood, Erratic Rainfall Moderate Severe Low Moderate Very low
Low
Drought
Low Moderate
Very
low
Low Very low
Low
Cyclone Moderate Severe Low Moderate Low Moderate
Coastal Inundation,
Salinity
Low Moderate Low Moderate Very low Low
Source: Workshop Exercise
6.8.2 Impacts <strong>of</strong> Climate Change on Health- observed <strong>change</strong>s
Climate induced natural hazards are major concerns in addressing health <strong>impacts</strong>. In a massive flood in 1988, 30
million people were affected in the country where 5.37 million were affected by diarrhoea. In 1998, more than 30
million people were affected by flood but the incidence <strong>of</strong> diarrhoea has been decreased by more than 50%
compared to 1988. This was mainly due to extensive measures taken by the government. In 90s, the government
<strong>of</strong> Bangladesh has undertaken different effective measures to prevent diarrhoea. <strong>The</strong> major programmes are
National Campaign on Health Awareness, Oral Rehydration, Increased Water Supply and Sanitation coverage etc.
Besides this, the government has developed a National Policy for Water Supply and Sanitation in 1998 to
promote use <strong>of</strong> safe water and sanitation practices. Moreover, some national NGOs like BRAC, Proshika, NGO
Forum for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation etc. have taken massive awareness programmes on health and
awareness. But from 2000 to 2007, the incidence <strong>of</strong> diarrhoea shows an increasing trend, though most <strong>of</strong> the
programmes are still operating. This is because <strong>of</strong> increased frequency <strong>of</strong> flood. In 2007, the incidences were
highest in the last six years may be due to flood and recurrent floods. However, the incidence <strong>of</strong> diarrhoea is high
in all the flood year. This indicates that the incidences may increase with increase <strong>of</strong> flood events. It may be noted
again and again that the poor always lose more but recover less in any extreme event.
<strong>The</strong> Probable Impacts <strong>of</strong> Climate Change on Poverty and Economic Growth and
the Options <strong>of</strong> Coping with adverse Effect <strong>of</strong> Climate Change in Bangladesh
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