Climate change is increasing the number of malaria cases. The above information was given by Mr. Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, on January 16 at World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023 is taking place in the city of Davos (Switzerland).
According to Mr. Sands, the number of malaria cases has increased sharply following floods in Pakistan and storms in Mozambique in 2021. He emphasized: “Wherever there is extreme weather, that’s there. malaria increase.”
An increase in phenomena extreme weather creating large pools of water for mosquitoes to breed is where the poor and vulnerable live.
Mr. Sands affirmed that climate change is also changing the mosquito’s habitat. The highlands of Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia, once inhospitable to mosquitoes, have now become hotbeds of malaria.
[Pakistan: Bệnh lây nhiễm qua nguồn nước lan rộng, bệnh viện quá tải]
Mr. Sands runs the world’s largest global fund, which funds the fight once morest tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS in the world’s poorest countries. The fund set a goal of raising $18 billion, and has already raised $15.7 billion.
This is the largest donation ever to global health. However, according to Mr. Sands, the current exchange rate fluctuations might cost this fund regarding 1 billion USD.
Mr. Sands also said that in the coming time, Climate Change is just one of the factors that might affect efforts to eliminate these diseases. The conflict in Ukraine has exacerbated tuberculosis and AIDS.
In middle-income countries such as India, Pakistan and Indonesia, the number of TB cases among the poorest populations is also increasing.
Faced with the risk of a global recession, Sands said these countries will face increasing pressure in the context of reduced health budgets due to inflation and the COVID-19 epidemic.
Bich Lien (VNA/Vietnam+)