“Do you consider climate change a threat to the health of those you serve?” That was the key question posed to over 4,700 attending health professionals at The Geneva Learning Foundation’s 9th Teach to Reach event.

Learn more: https://www.learning.foundation/cop28

As Kingsley Nniere, a community health worker from Ghana, explained, “Climate change is actually a threat…with severe downpour of rains…most of the rivers are flooded and most of the ghatas are flooded. And…it brings a lot of mosquitoes and these mosquitoes bite the community members and…gives them malaria.”

Other health workers echoed Kingsley’s sentiments. Dr. Tuusime Ramadan, a retired doctor in Uganda, highlighted how “climate change has caused problems to very many people we serve,” including floods destroying “homes, destroy crops, destroy houses,” drought killing livestock, and storms damaging health facilities. Participants explored connections between environmental changes - from drinking water access to extreme heat - and specific health impacts in their communities.

The virtual session featured climate and health perspectives shared directly from the frontlines in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, and beyond. Health staff described their struggles to treat and protect patients amidst these mounting climate challenges.

The discussion then shifted to exploring potential solutions, with speakers weighing in on “What can you do as a health professional?” and “What do you want your country and global partners to do?”

If you’re interested to hear these urgent firsthand testimonies on dealing with climate change impacts from dedicated health workers worldwide, then be sure to watch the full climate and health session video from Teach to Reach 9.

There is a lot more to learn from health workers about the impact of climate on health.

Join the #COP28 event “From community to planet: Health professionals on the frontlines of climate change https://www.learning.foundation/climate