scholarly journals Climate Change and Healthcare Sustainability in the Agincourt Sub-District, Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 496
Author(s):  
Monika dos Santos ◽  
David Howard ◽  
Pieter Kruger ◽  
Arnaud Banos ◽  
Saul Kornik
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Healthcare Facilities

As low-income communities are most vulnerable to climate-associated health concerns, access to healthcare will increase in importance as a key priority in South Africa. This study explores healthcare sustainability in the Agincourt sub-district, Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region in Mpumalanga, South Africa. A rapid assessment and response methodology (RAR) was implemented, which includes the examination of previous studies conducted in the sub-district, the mapping of healthcare facilities in the area, and the implementation of a facility infrastructure and workforce capacity investigation by means of key informant (KI) interviews at eight healthcare facilities. Findings indicate that the greatest need across the facilities relate to access to medical doctors and pharmacists. None of the facilities factored climate associations with health into their clinical care strategies. The necessity to train healthcare facility staff on aspects related to climate change, health, and sustainability is highlighted. Environmental health practitioners should also be incorporated in grassroots community climate adaptation strategies. Outcomes further indicate the need for the advancement of integrated healthcare and climate adaptation strategies that focus on strengthening healthcare systems, which may include novel technological approaches such as telemedicine. Policy makers need to be proactive and pre-emptive in finding and improving processes and models to render healthcare services prepared for climate change.

Droughts, floods and freshwater ecosystems: evaluating climate change impacts and developing adaptation strategies

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Aldous ◽  
James Fitzsimons ◽  
Brian Richter ◽  
Leslie Bach
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia

Climate change is expected to have significant impacts on hydrologic regimes and freshwater ecosystems, and yet few basins have adequate numerical models to guide the development of freshwater climate adaptation strategies. Such strategies can build on existing freshwater conservation activities, and incorporate predicted climate change impacts. We illustrate this concept with three case studies. In the Upper Klamath Basin of the western USA, a shift in land management practices would buffer this landscape from a declining snowpack. In the Murray–Darling Basin of south-eastern Australia, identifying the requirements of flood-dependent natural values would better inform the delivery of environmental water in response to reduced runoff and less water. In the Savannah Basin of the south-eastern USA, dam managers are considering technological and engineering upgrades in response to more severe floods and droughts, which would also improve the implementation of recommended environmental flows. Even though the three case studies are in different landscapes, they all contain significant freshwater biodiversity values. These values are threatened by water allocation problems that will be exacerbated by climate change, and yet all provide opportunities for the development of effective climate adaptation strategies.

scholarly journals Toward an integrated system of climate change and human health indicators: a conceptual framework

2021 ◽  
Vol 166 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Y. Liu ◽  
Juli M. Trtanj ◽  
Erin K. Lipp ◽  
John M. Balbus
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Health Trends ◽  
Science And Policy

AbstractEnvironmental health indicators are helpful for tracking and communicating complex health trends, informing science and policy decisions, and evaluating public health actions. When provided on a national scale, they can help inform the general public, policymakers, and public health professionals about important trends in exposures and how well public health systems are preventing those exposures from causing adverse health outcomes. There is a growing need to understand national trends in exposures and health outcomes associated with climate change and the effectiveness of climate adaptation strategies for health. To date, most indicators for health implications of climate change have been designed as independent, individual metrics. This approach fails to take into account how exposure-outcome pathways for climate-attributable health outcomes involve multiple, interconnected components. We propose reframing climate change and health indicators as a linked system of indicators, which can be described as follows: upstream climate drivers affect environmental states, which then determine human exposures, which ultimately lead to health outcomes; these climate-related risks are modified by population vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies. We apply this new conceptual framework to three illustrative climate-sensitive health outcomes and associated exposure-outcome pathways: pollen allergies and asthma, West Nile virus infection, and vibriosis.

scholarly journals Efficiency of Health Care Risk Waste Management in Rural Healthcare Facilities of South Africa: An Assessment of Selected Facilities in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 2199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Foluke C. Olaniyi ◽  
Jason S. Ogola ◽  
Takalani G. Tshitangano
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
The Public ◽  
Efficient Management ◽  
The Social ◽  
Vhembe District ◽  
And Storage

Waste generated form healthcare facilities is a potential source of health risks to the public, if it is not properly handled from the point of generation to disposal. This study was conducted to assess the efficiency of healthcare risk waste (HCRW) management in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Fifteen healthcare facilities were selected in Vhembe District for this study. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, observation and pictures. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed, while the quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 25. In all the healthcare facilities; mismanagement of HCRW was noted at different points along the management chain. Poor segregation, overfilling of waste bins, inappropriate transportation and storage of waste in substandard storage rooms were observed in the facilities. All the waste from the district are transported to a private-owned treatment facility outside the district, where they are mainly incinerated. Enforcement of healthcare risk waste guidelines, provision of standardized equipment for temporary storage, empowerment of each healthcare facility to treat at least some of the waste, and employment of non-burn techniques for treatment of waste are recommended for more efficient management of healthcare risk waste in Vhembe District.

scholarly journals Using a mentorship model to localise the Practical Approach to Care Kit (PACK): from South Africa to Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (Suppl 5) ◽  
pp. e001079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajibola Awotiwon ◽  
Charlie Sword ◽  
Tracy Eastman ◽  
Christy Joy Ras ◽  
Prince Ana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Health Systems Strengthening ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Practical Approach ◽  
Continuous Learning ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
User Friendly

Nigeria, in its quest to strengthen its primary healthcare system, is faced with a number of challenges including a shortage of clinicians and skills. Methods are being sought to better equip primary healthcare clinicians for the clinical demands that they face. Using a mentorship model between developers in South Africa and Nigerian clinicians, the Practical Approach to Care Kit (PACK) for adult patients, a health systems strengthening programme, has been localised and piloted in 51 primary healthcare facilities in three Nigerian states. Lessons learnt from this experience include the value of this remote model of localisation for rapid localisation, the importance of early, continuous stakeholder engagement, the need expressed by Nigeria’s primary healthcare clinicians for clinical guidance that is user friendly and up-to-date, a preference for the tablet version of the PACK Adult guide over hard copies and the added value of WhatsApp groups to complement the programme of face-to-face continuous learning. Introduction of the PACK programme in Nigeria prompted uptake of evidence-informed recommendations within primary healthcare services.

scholarly journals Healthcare Facilities and Services: Correlates to the Clinical Nursing Care for Patients with Psycho-Behavioral Pathologies in Lanao Del Sur

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Omira Abdulbasit ◽  
 Ms. Anieraida H. Hassim ◽  
Randy Ian F. Gallego
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Care ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Staff Nurses ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Correlational Design ◽  
Clinical Nursing

Mental health, for some time has been a facet downplayed to be of lesser importance due to its very mystical nature causing it to be habitually ignored. Albeit the case, mental illness and its similar disturbances can become so significantly serious that it can encroach on and impair the day-to-day activities of its stricken victims. This study examined the extent of preliminary clinical care provided by nurses to clients with unique psychological needs. It used the descriptive-correlational design through a validated and reliability-tested instrument responded by 113 staff nurses from six hospitals around Lanao del Sur. It involved the statistical analysis of data using frequency, weighted mean, and Pearson correlation. In addition, a triangulation procedure was also employed to incorporate qualitative narrative comments of the respondents through follow-up informant interviews and journal writing.  The survey revealed that hospitals in the study locale do not have personnel with qualified specializations to attend to the needs of clients with psycho-behavioral manifestations. Moreover, the institutions did not have adequate physical facilities and equipment to aid in the appropriate diagnosis and management of mental conditions. It also showed that the availability of mental healthcare services, facilities, and personnel were significantly correlated to the extent of preliminary clinical nursing care. Hence, it can be regarded that these factors have a strong bearing and influence on the quality and extent of clinical care received by patients.

scholarly journals Epistemic injustice, risk mapping and climatic events: analysing epistemic resistance in the context of favela removal in Rio de Janeiro

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-391
Author(s):  
Luciana Mendes Barbosa ◽  
Gordon Walker
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Risk Mapping ◽  
Climate Justice ◽  
Epistemic Injustice ◽  
Epistemic Justice ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The City

Abstract. Environmental and climate justice scholarship has increasingly focused on how knowledge and expertise play into the production of injustice and into strategies of resistance and activist claim making. We consider the epistemic injustice at work within the practices of risk mapping and assessment applied in Rio de Janeiro to justify the clearance of favela communities. We trace how in the wake of landslides in 2010, the city authorities moved towards a removal policy justified in the name of protecting lives and becoming resilient to climate change. We examine how favela dwellers, activists and counter-experts joined efforts to develop a partially successful epistemic resistance that contested the knowledge on which this policy was based. We use this case to reflect on the situated character of both technologies of risk and the emergence of epistemic resistance, on the relationship between procedural and epistemic justice, and on the challenges for instilling more just climate adaptation strategies.

The impact of climate change on Canadian archives

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Disaster Planning ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Records Management ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Impact Of Climate Change ◽  
Projected Changes ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to identify Canadian archives that are at risk for climate change threats, to present a snapshot of current practices around disaster planning, sustainability and climate adaptation and to provide recommended next steps for records managers and archivists adapting to climate change. Design/methodology/approach These objectives were achieved by analyzing the geographic locations of Canadian archives in relation to projected climate data and by analyzing the results of a survey distributed to staff at Canadian archival repositories. Findings This study found that all Canadian archives will be impacted by projected changes in both annual mean temperatures and precipitation to the year 2080. Themes that emerged surrounding climate adaptation strategies include the investment in the design and efficiency of spaces housing records and the importance of resilient buildings, the need for increased training on climate change, engaging senior leadership and administrators on climate change and developing regional strategies. Preparing for and mitigating the impact of climate change on the facilities and holdings needs to become a priority. Originality/value This research underscores the importance of developing climate adaptation strategies, considering the sustainability of records management and archival professional practice, increasing the resilience of the facilities and records and strengthening the disaster planning and recovery methods.

Estimating greenhouse gas emissions associated with achieving universal access to electricity for all households in South Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 8-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Tait ◽  
Harald Winkler
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Electricity Demand ◽  
Power Stations ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Minor Portion ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Electricity Access

Climate change, energy security and achieving universal electricity access for all households are all pressing issues that South Africa must address. These objectives need not be trade-offs, however, and achieving electricity access for the poor does not justify the building of large coal-fired power stations or threaten South Africa’s climate change objectives. This paper estimates the electricity demand from the residential sector to 2020 resulting from universal access, and finds that electricity for low-income households would constitute only a small addition to total electricity demand and would represent only a minor portion of output from the coal-fired power station, Medupi. Furthermore, emissions from the additional electricity consumed by newly connected households would have a negligible impact on South Africa’s emissions profile.

scholarly journals Sustainability of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies: Experiences from Eastern Ghana

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Kwaku Agyei
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Adaptation Strategy ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Farming Communities ◽  
Climate Risks ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Low Cost Strategy

<p class="emsd"><span lang="EN-GB">Climate change risks are wide spread, and they are transforming the socio-environmental infrastructure of economic development. Whether they are included or not in the development of national adaptation strategies, rural populations continue to employ diverse climate adaptation strategies to withstand climate induced vulnerabilities inimical to their livelihoods. Using the case of farming communities in Eastern Ghana and through semi-structured interviews, this article addresses the questions: which climate risks confront farmers, what are farmers’ adaptation choices, and which adaptation strategies are sustainable and why? The paper argues that farmers use range of adaptation strategies to minimize climate risks. Nevertheless, some strategies do not sustain the anticipated positive outcomes. Local choices of adaptation strategies were skewed towards advancing general income, and poorly promoted healthy ecological systems. Farmers’ choices of climate strategies were based on, among others, personal intuition or historical experience, knowledge of strategies, and availability of resources to implement a particular strategy: sustainability measures weakly influenced selections. Short rotation and mixed species cropping, farming at several locations, and drought tolerant crop varieties were sustainable initiatives to farmers. The main qualities of successful initiatives were low cost strategy, economic equity, and flexibility to precipitation and temperature. Climate adaptation strategy can be sustainable if it is less costly to establish, and flexible to places and seasons. </span></p>

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