Discussions at the World Health Summit in Berlin this week have rightly emphasized the role of health workers, especially those directly serving local communities.
Health workers stand at the intersection of climate change and community health.
They are first-hand eyewitnesses and the first line of defense against the impacts of climate on health.
There is real horror in the climate impacts on health they describe.
Read the Health Worker Eyewitness reports “Climate change and health: Health workers on climate, community, and the urgent need for action“ and “On the frontline of climate change and health: A health worker eyewitness report”.
There is also real hope in the local solutions and strategies they are already implementing to help communities survive such impacts, most often without support from their government or from the global community.
There is no alternative to the health workforce as the ones most likely to drive effective adaptation strategies and build trust when it comes to climate change and health.
Their unique value stems from several key factors:
- Firsthand experience: Health workers witness the direct and indirect health impacts of climate change daily, providing valuable insights.
- Community trust: As respected figures in their communities, health workers can effectively communicate climate-health risks and promote adaptive behaviors.
- Local knowledge: Their deep understanding of local contexts allows for the development of tailored, culturally appropriate solutions.
- Existing infrastructure: Health workers represent an established network that is already having to respond to climate change.
As Dr. Maria Neira from the World Health Organization emphasized at Teach to Reach 10 in June 2024: “We need to use our voice, the power of the voice of health, to convince governments to do three things. First, accelerate the transition to clean sources of energy to stop this disaster. Second, to accelerate the transition to sustainable food systems. And third, to accelerate the transition to better planning of urban areas…” Learn more about Teach to Reach.
However, current global health investments often overlook the potential of health workers.
Furthermore, there is a tendency to see them as instruments to implement national plans and policies and recipients for knowledge about climate change that they are assumed to be lacking.
This fails to recognize the potential of health workers to lead, not just execute plans, in the face of climate change impacts on health.
It also fails to recognize the significance and value of local knowledge and experience that health workers hold because they are there every day.
A shift in focus could make health workers the most obvious “best buy” for governments and international funders.
By investing in health workers as agents of change, we can leverage an existing, trusted workforce to rapidly scale up adaptation efforts and rebuild trust in global health initiatives.
One innovative model developed by The Geneva Learning Foundation has shown promise in this area, connecting over 60,000 health practitioners across 137 countries and reaching frontline government staff working for health in conflict zones and other challenging contexts.
This approach not only maximizes the impact of climate-health investments but also strengthens health systems overall, creating a win-win scenario for global health and climate resilience.
Image: The Geneva Learning Foundation Collection © 2024