Islamabad, Aug 10: Syed Qasim Ali Shah, the Minister of Health for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, announced on Friday that the Health Department would create a Climate Change Cell specifically to handle the increasing health risks associated with climate change.The minister stressed that when natural disasters like floods and other climate-related events occur, the health sector is among the first to be affected.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is facing new health issues as a result of climate change, with diseases including dengue, malaria, and leishmaniasis spreading throughout the area. Qasim Ali Shah stated, “We now need to concentrate on preventing epidemics and equipping our health department to adequately address the implications of climate change, rather than just reacting to them.
The minister emphasized that a notable rise in malaria cases has occurred recently, especially in the southern provinces, as a result of floods brought on by the monsoon. Gastrointestinal illnesses have also spread as a result of contaminated drinking water during floods.
