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Climate change and mental health: risks, impacts and priority actions

Katie Hayes, G. Blashki, J. Wiseman et al. International Journal of Mental Health Systems (2018) CC

This article provides an overview of the current and projected climate change risks and impacts to mental health and provides recommendations for priority actions to address the mental health consequences of climate change.

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Carbon and Other Biogeochemical Cycles

Ciais, P.; and C. Sabine IPCC (2018) CC

This chapter addresses the biogeochemical cycles of carbon dioxide. (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O)

African Union AMR Landmark Report: Voicing African Priorities on the Active Pandemic

Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2024) CC

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a leading cause of death in the African region, surpassing fatalities from malaria, HIV, and TB. In response to this critical threat, the region has adopted the AMR Global Action Plan and the African Union Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance Control 2 ... 020 – 2025, which is tailored to meet the specific needs of African nations through a coordinated approach. While most countries in the region have developed and prioritized National Action Plans (NAPs) to tackle AMR, the overall response remains inadequate given the magnitude of the threat, which endangers human, animal, environmental, aquatic, and plant health. Africa bears a significant burden of infectious diseases, accounting for approximately 95% of malaria deaths, 70% of people living with HIV, and 25% of TB deaths globally. In 2019, AMR was linked to approximately 55,000 deaths from HIV, 30,000 from malaria, and 255,000 overall. Major drivers of AMR in the region include the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in human and food systems, migration, suboptimal vaccination rates, and environmental contamination from hospital and pharmaceutical effluents. Additionally, there is a lack of access to quality-assured antimicrobials and diagnostics, compounded by inadequate knowledge about AMR. Unlike high-income countries, where indiscriminate antimicrobial use is the primary factor driving AMR, African countries face additional challenges, including a lack of access to clean and safe water, poor Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs, inadequate infection prevention measures, and suboptimal vaccinations for preventable diseases. One in three hospitals in the region lacks clean, safe running water, and one in eight people defecate openly due to inadequate sanitation. Investments in WASH, infection prevention, and biosecurity could save approximately 700,000 lives annually. Addressing AMR in Africa requires a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach involving the entire society. Sustainable access to antimicrobials, including antibiotics, vaccines, and therapeutics, is crucial, as lack of access leads to more morbidity and mortality than AMR itself. Support for the region should focus on preventing infections, strengthening health and food systems, developing human resources, ensuring sustainable access to diagnostics and therapeutics, and investing in laboratory infrastructure to support surveillance and data generation. more

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Hospital Safe from Disasters

ISDR; World Health Organization WHO; The World Bank United Nations (2008)

Reduce Risk, Protect Health Facilities, Save Lives

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Training Manual: Climate and Health

International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) (2016) C1

The project was developed by the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), in line with the Federation’s statement “a world in which students are equipped with knowledge, skills and value to take on health leadership roles locally and globally so to ... more

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Invisible women: A gender analysis of climate-induced migration in South Asia

Action Aid; CANSA; ICMPD; et al. (2021) CC

New research exposes how women and children are disproportionally affected by climate migration, which puts them at greater risk of gender-based violence, child labour and exploitation. Governments must ensure the safety and protection of women and girls in climate emergencies, including the safe ... more

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WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: household fuel combustion

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2014) C_WHO

Energy use in the home is a vital and ubiquitous feature of human society. Energy is used for a wide variety of purposes, including cooking, space heating, light- ing, small-scale income generation, various household tasks, and entertainment.

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Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change

Marselle M., Stadler J., Korn H., et al. (2019) CC

The biosphere underlies the whole sustainable development concept, as the layer on which society and the economy rely. Nature and biodiversity fuel the natural cycles and life-support systems of the planet, on which humanity ultimately depends.

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Global Trends and Prospects

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (2023) CC

According to most recent data, the world economy grew by 3.1 per cent in 2022. To many, the rebound suggested that a soft landing was possible in 2023, and that the key problems of the year 2022 – rising prices, supply-chain disruptions and recession risks – have been addressed. As a result, t ... more

From emergency response to long-term COVID-19 disease management - Ending the COVID-19 emergency and transitioning from emergency phase to longer-term disease management: Guidance on calibrating the r

World Health Organization WHO (2023) C_WHO

The key actions, activities, and approaches in this document are organized within each of the 5Cs (see Table 1 in the PDF) and those of the Strategic preparedness and response plan (SPRP) pillars as follows: National action plan key activities, prioritized for the current context and the current ... more