Trinidad and Tobago (Newsday) – UWI, St Augustine is partnering with CARICOM on an initiative designed to help reduce mortality and morbidity from the health impacts of climate change.
In a statement on Tuesday, UWI said there’s a need for the European Union-funded initiative, “Building Climate Resilient Health Systems in the Caribbean,” as the “health impacts of climate change are evident across the Caribbean.”
The release spotlighted violent hurricanes, heatwaves, increased air pollution, rising sea levels and covid19 and other pandemics as climate-change-related issues affecting the region.
Professor of veterinary virology at the School of Veterinary Medicine at UWI and team-lead Chris Oura emphasised the close relationship between health and climate, saying, “They are both wicked problems that are having a severe impact. We need to increase resilience in our health. We need to look after our environment. Otherwise, we’re going to be hit again harder by pandemics, and we’re going to be hit harder by climate change.”
