Kenya Climate Change and Health Strategy Development for 2024-2029
Categories: Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP), Health National Adaptation Plans, Country experience, Africa, Climate Resilient Health Systems, Financing
Country: Kenya
Kenya Climate Change and Health Strategy, 2024-2029 Credit: Ministry of Health, Kenya Context
The Kenya Climate Change and Health Strategy, 2024-2029 aims to equip the nation with a robust plan to tackle climate change and health issues over the medium to long term.
Previously, the country lacked a dedicated policy document on implementation of climate change and health actions, programs and aspirations. Existing policies and legislation were relatively weak on prioritizing health in climate change action. In addition,very few sections of the existing policy frameworks, including sanitation policies, addressed health impacts of climate change despite their significance. Health vulnerability to climate change was overlooked with epidemiological data and climate-scenarios were limited.
This new strategy, the first of its kind in Kenya will serve to address the health impacts of climate change. It has a focus on adapting healthcare systems to climate-related risks, including extreme weather events, disease outbreaks, air pollution, and other climate-sensitive health risks, such as mental health. The strategy also promotes mitigation efforts within the health sector itself to maximize potential benefits for population and planetary health.
Priority area of Belem Health Action Plan: Evidence-Based Policy Strategy and Capacity Building
Implementation process
The implementation of this strategy involves:
- Training and sensitization of healthcare workers and other stakeholders on climate change and health.
- Training public health officers on health facilities emissions’ measurement.
- Building climate resilient health systems initiatives.
- The introduction of the clinical waste management non-burn technologies in healthcare facilities.
- Continuous engagement with stakeholders. The Ministry leads in the coordination of climate and health Technical Working Group that meets regularly to track progress on implementation.
Lessons learned
Collaboration and ongoing engagement of key stakeholders in the climate-health space is critical to the implementation of climate-health actions, programs and aspirations. The allocation of resources for the implementation of the strategy, including financial resources, is also vital.
Challenges
- Political and Social Barriers: A lack of knowledge about the severity of climate change and its impacts on health has slowed down implementation.,
- Inadequate Funding: The lack of sufficient financial and human capacity resources, including funding for research, infrastructure development, and public health programs is a critical challenge. Allocation of funds to climate change activities and programs isn’t a priority.
- Competing Demands and Resource Allocation:The health sector faces many competing demands on resources and climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts are generally not a priority. Other more immediate priorities, emergencies often take precedence and financial constraints exacerbate this situation.
- Data and evidence gaps: A lack of sufficient data on the health impacts of climate change makes it difficult to develop targeted interventions.
Success factors
Enhanced collaboration with development partners and other stakeholders has reduced duplication of efforts and resources. In addition, a pooled system of resources has been developed which has enhanced implementation. This has also promoted the strengthened capacity for policy makers and other in country stakeholders to respond effectively to climate-related health risks and support actions and program implementation.
Recommendations
Some key recommendations based on Kenya's experience in developing its Climate Change and Health Strategy include:
- Collaboration with other stakeholders is key to successful implementation of climate-health actions and programs.
- Sustained country -level resource mobilization and allocation for climate-health actions is paramount for successful implementation.
- Enhancing funding opportunities and the ease of access to these funds would support implementation of actions related to the Belem Health Action Plan. For example, reducing existing challenging conditionalities often imposed by climate funding mechanisms.
- Building research capacity, especially in vulnerable communities, is crucial for understanding and addressing these impacts.
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