A nurse stands in her clinic, which faces flooding in the rainy season.
The health system and people of Lao PDR are vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. The country is projected to experience more extreme weather, a 10– 30% increase in rainy season rainfall and temperature increases of 2–3 °C by 2050 – as well as health impacts resulting from industrialization, environmental degradation, pollution and urbanization.
Diarrhoeal and mosquito-borne diseases are expected to rise due to changing rainfall patterns and poor sanitation conditions. The growing number of extreme heat days will cause increased malnutrition by undermining food security. Mental health impacts are expected to increase. Increasing extreme weather events are projected to increase, exacerbating flood-induced displacement, damage and loss of access to health-care facilities, and flood-related casualties. Already health-care facilities in Lao PDR face challenges with access to good quality water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. Extreme weather events will undermine WASH access and quality, particularly in poorer, rural areas.
At the same time, 4.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to come from the health sector, and it is responsible for large amounts of waste. The need for a climate-resilient health-care system is a priority for WHO and the Ministry of Health. Lao PDR has made substantial steps, including developing the National Climate Change and Health Strategy and making significant commitments to build a climate-resilient and low-carbon sustainable health system.
Results
- With WHO support, the Health National Adaptation Plan (H-NAP) was developed in 2022. H-NAP is a landmark document outlining the steps to achieving COP26 climate commitments to health, and aims to integrate climate risks into existing public health programmes including sanitation, disease and disaster management.
- The Safe Clean Green and Climate Resilient Healthcare Facilities Initiative, ensuring health facilities are resilient to worsening climate conditions and extreme weather events, was implemented in 62 hospitals across 6 provinces between 2019 and 2022. In 2022, with funding support from the EU, 20 more hospitals joined this initiative.
- The first Lao PDR National WASH Survey was undertaken in 2021, providing the foremost data on WASH services, climate change effects and climate resiliency in health-care facilities.
- CO2 intensive incinerators and open burning practices have been replaced with non-combustion technology (autoclaves) in 77 health-care facilities.
- WHO Lao PDR is supporting the establishment of an early warning and response system for climate-sensitive diseases, integrating weather data within the health management information system. Data-sharing practices between the health and environment sectors are in the process of being formalized and an early predictive model for climate sensitive diseases is being tested.
- Staff capacity to assess and manage climate risks and water quality at national and sub-national levels has been strengthened in 25 urban water suppliers (nam papas) across 7 provinces. A climate-resilient water safety plan became part of daily practice and has helped improve water quality monitoring and operational monitoring at all points of water use.
- Climate change and health adaptation training modules for public health managers were developed in 2021-22, with 20 trainers trained. The programme has been added to the Master of Public Health and Environmental Health Training curriculum at the Lao University of Health Sciences.
- Air quality monitoring coverage was increased through 1 stationary and 10 real-time monitoring stations, an air quality index was developed, and air quality data is being used for health planning and communication.
The work ahead
- Translating policy to implementation is facing a capacity gap: Policies, strategies, standards and tools to assess and manage climate and environmental risks to health have been developed and disseminated. However, implementation at the health-care facility and community level requires human resources, regular operational costs, infrastructure, training and monitoring support. This is a key priority for WHO.
- Continued support of the Safe Clean Green and Climate Resilient Healthcare Facilities Initiative, as part of the national health adaptation and mitigation plans: This initiative should be continuously expanded to all central, provincial and district hospitals and health centres by 2025 to achieve SDG targets for WASH and climate action.
- Enhancing coordination and funding: Providing support to better incorporate climate change into climate-sensitive disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and water sanitation and hygiene programmes for improving response, coordination and resourcing.
- Integrating climate and health data for innovative actions: Building on progress thus far, the early warning system must be fully established to predict and respond to climate-sensitive diseases before they become crises.
Girls collecting water for everyday use in their households
Our partners
The Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The Green Climate Fund (GCF)
UNDP