National Programme on Climate Change & Human Health

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched the National Program for Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) in 2019.

Objectives

The NPCCHH objectives with some initially identified key actions are:

• To create awareness among general population (vulnerable community), health-care providers and Policy makers regarding impacts of climate change on human health.
• To strengthen capacity of healthcare system to reduce illnesses/ diseases due to variability in climate
• To strengthen health preparedness and response by performing situational analysis at national/ state/ district/ below district levels.
• To develop partnerships and create synchrony/ synergy with other missions and ensure that health is adequately represented in the climate change agenda in the country
• To strengthen research capacity to fill the evidence gap on climate change impact on human health

Key activities

• Development of IEC material on health impacts of Climate variability & change
• Advocacy on health impacts of Climate variability & change
• Strengthening of health care system in context of climate change
• Capacity building for vulnerability assessment at various levels and liaison with centre 
• Develop/ strengthen the monitoring and surveillance systems for climate sensitive diseases
• Develop mechanisms for EWS/ alerts and responses at state, district and below district level
• Develop joint action plan with other deptt./ organizations In view of their capabilities and complementarities
• Integrate, adopt and implement environment friendly measures suggested in other missions on climate change
• Strengthening  of healthcare services based on researches on climate variables and impact on human health 

Expected Output

• Awareness & Behaviour modification of general population for impact, illnesses, prevention and adaptive measures for climate sensitive illnesses.
• Increase in trained healthcare personnel and equipped institutes/ organization towards achievement of climate resilient healthcare services and infrastructure at district level in each state.
• Integrated monitoring system for collection and analysis of health related data with meteorological parameters, environmental, socio-economic and occupational factors
• Regulation on key environmental determinants of health: air quality, water quality, food, waste management, agriculture, transport.
• Evidence–based support to policy makers, programme planners and related stakeholders

Source : National Centre for Disease Control