Protecting health from climate change on world health day

Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride has today joined with the rest of the world in marking World Health Day.

Organised by the World Health Organisation and celebrated on April 7 every year, World Health Day is a unique opportunity to draw worldwide attention to global health issues. This year’s theme is Protecting Health from Climate Change.

Dr McBride said: “Everybody wants good health for themselves and their families. We all want a good quality of life and a good environment. Working towards these goals is at the heart of sustainable development. And there are encouraging signs that health bodies are beginning to acknowledge their sustainable development responsibilities.

“What is required now is the energy, enthusiasm and leadership to make, manage and sustain the necessary changes over the long term, to maximise the use of health resources to benefit the social, economic and environmental conditions in which we live.”

Climate Change and Energy was one of six priority areas for action identified
In the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy ‘First Steps Towards Sustainability’, published in November 2006.

“Current predictions on climate change suggest greater long-term impacts on health than any current public health priority,” explained Dr McBride.

“To preserve health in a changing climate, we need to modify and strengthen the systems we have to adapt to the likely future impacts of global warming. We must tackle this issue on all fronts, reducing our contribution to the problem and responding to the effects of climate change is a shared international responsibility.”

Notes to Editors:

1. World Health Day is organised annually to mark the found of the World Health Organisation. More information can be found on the World Health Day website.
2. A visible example of the HPSS commitment to energy efficiency is the new wind turbine erected at Antrim Hospital by United Hospitals HSS Trust pictured below. For the period February 2005 to April 2006 inclusive, United Hospitals HSS Trust reduced its payment for electricity by a total of £62,437. The cost of the turbine was £497,000 funded by a grant of £400,000 from the Central Energy Efficiency Fund and over the 20 year useful life of the turbine the Trust can expect to reduce its carbon emissions by around 650 tonnes.
3. For further information please contact DHSSPS Information Office on 02890 520571, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.