ASHENEWS reports that some United Nations agencies have placed an urgent call for action to address the effects of climate change on maternal and child health.
The agencies, in the call to action, stated that not only are the effects of climate change on maternal and child health underreported but they have been neglected and underestimated.
The organizations which include the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stated this in a joint document issued ahead of the global Conference of the Parties (COP28) negotiations on climate change in Dubai.
According to the document, there is an urgent need for climate action as the crisis is jeopardizing children’s fundamental right to health and well-being.
“Climate change poses an existential threat to all of us, but pregnant women, babies, and children face some of the gravest consequences of all.
“Children’s futures need to be consciously protected, which means taking climate action now for the sake of their health and survival while ensuring their unique needs are recognized in the climate response,” the report quoted Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director General for Universal Health Coverage, Life Course at the World Health Organization (WHO) as saying.
On the effects of the crisis on maternal health, it said “An over-heating world is increasing the spread of deadly diseases like cholera, malaria, and dengue, with dire consequences for pregnant women and children for whom these infections can be especially severe.
“Research shows that harm can begin even in the womb, leading to pregnancy-related complications, preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth.
“For children, consequences can last a lifetime, affecting the development of their bodies and brains as they grow.”
The document identified seven urgent actions to address these mounting risks.
These include sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and action on climate finance, alongside the specific inclusion of the needs of pregnant women, babies, and children within climate and disaster-related policies.
The agencies also called for more research to better understand the impacts of climate change on maternal and child health.
