The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new report that states: Safe, climate-resilient, and environmentally sustainable healthcare facilities: An overview. This publication provides policy makers, health managers, facility managers, and healthcare professionals with the tools to provide safe, climate-resilient, and environmentally sustainable healthcare to deliver quality care and withstand environmental crises. We will provide guidance on what is required to develop your facility. As global environmental crises such as climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss worsen, health systems and facilities must urgently respond to avoid being overwhelmed by the growing challenges and disruptions.
Health facilities are the foundation of any health system and are critical to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and ensuring continuous access to services for acute and complex conditions. To provide quality care, these facilities must have a safe and reliable supply of electricity, water and sanitation, cleaning and waste management services, sound chemical and radiological controls, and adequate training. There must be a functioning basic infrastructure, including health care that is accessible, supported and protected. labor force.
Healthcare facilities are directly affected by the ongoing climate crisis and play a critical role in managing the health impacts on populations. To continue operating, be environmentally sustainable, optimize resources, and reduce emissions and pollutants, we must be climate resilient.
Climate change will continue to exacerbate disease burdens and increase climate-related stressors such as extreme weather events. Despite their important role in protecting health from climate change, many health facilities remain ill-equipped to effectively manage these environmental risks, posing a significant obstacle to achieving universal health coverage. It becomes.
This overview is critical because it introduces you to the elements of safe, climate-resilient, and environmentally sustainable healthcare facilities and provides practical guidance and further resources to achieve them. Working towards these goals is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the strategic objectives outlined in WHO's 14th General Program of Work.
