Leaders from Western Pacific region to build health infrastructure amid "avoidable environmental risks"

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MANILA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Health leaders from across the Western Pacific region agreed on Friday to build more resilient health systems to respond to climate change, saying that about 3.5 million deaths a year in the region are attributable to "avoidable environmental risks."

At the close of the 70th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, WHO warned that countries and regions with weak health infrastructure would be least able to cope with the impacts of climate change on health.

"All populations will be affected by climate change, but some are more vulnerable than others," WHO said, especially people living in small island developing states and other coastal regions, megacities, and mountainous regions.

Delegates discussed the impact of harsh climate on health by diminishing people's access to clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter.

They expressed concern that climate change also increases the rate of waterborne diseases and diseases transmitted by insects.

Between 2030 and 2050, WHO said climate change is projected to cause an additional 250,000 deaths annually from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress around the world.

"Climate change poses a vast range of health risks for countries in the region, from warmer temperatures that increase the range of malaria, dengue and other vector-borne diseases to a rise in waterborne and food-borne diseases associated with extreme weather," WHO said.

The organization said many Pacific island countries and regions are seriously threatened by the rising sea levels.

And for some Asian countries, pollution and other environmental issues associated with rapid economic development pose serious health risks.

"Addressing these threats is also a key priority for WHO's work in the coming five years," WHO added.

Already, delegates agreed to hold the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee in Japan from Oct. 5 to 9, 2020. Enditem

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