Mortality and Disease Tripta Singh Email: tsingh@unfoundation.org Deputy Director, Energy Access, Energy and Climate United Nations Foundation
www.unfoundation.org www.energyaccess.org
Health Impacts of Climate Change on Women !""#$ !&'()*" +,-$)* (./ !./,-$)* !&'()*" 0. 10&$. Health ! Increase in infectious, water- borne or vector-borne diseases, e.g., malaria, due to increased temperatures and intensified storms ! Heat-related illness ! Malnutrition ! Increased air pollution, allergies and asthma ! Mental disorders such as anxiety and depression ! Pregnant and lactating women, along with the very young and very old, are most vulnerable to health threats ! Increased lack of health-care services, immunizations, family planning, reproductive health care in disaster zones ! Potential increase in maternal and infant mortality rates due to lack of care ! Lack of services and hygienic supplies in relief shelters for pregnant, lactating or menstruating women Source: unu Women and Health 287,000 women globally die from preventable causes during pregnancy and childbirth. 99 percent of these deaths occur in developing countries. Ensuring effective provision of maternal and community health services to women in these countries is critical. Electricity is a critical enabler in making healthcare services available to women.
Energy and Womens Health Inadequate or lack of lighting in clinics poses barriers to the delivery of quality healthcare, discourages patients from seeking care, and compounds the risks of adverse outcomes. A new analysis by the World Health Organization the first multi-country analysis of electricity access in health facilities found that only 34% of hospitals have reliable electricity access in surveyed sub- Saharan African countries. Hot spots of mortality and disease closely match areas where health facilities lack electricity. Health Impacts of Fuel-based Lighting Indoor pollutants from fuel-based lamps include multiple hazardous materials an order of magnitude higher than health guidelines. Correlations with cataract and tuberculosis observed, but require further study. Fuel-based lighting is a significant cause of structural fires and severe burn injuries, with particularly high death rates (24% on average) in cases where kerosene is adulterated with other fuels, resulting in explosions. In India, nearly 15% of all burns are caused by kerosene lamps, with a 7.4% mortality rate and a female male incidence rate of 3:1. Source: Lawrence 8erkeley nauonal LaboraLorles 6 Sustainable Energy for All Initiative 1.2 billion people worldwide are without access to electricity, and a billion more have only intermittent access. 2.8 billion people lack access to clean cooking solutions.
In response, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched a new initiative in 2011 by the same name, calling on governments, businesses, and civil society to make commitments to action to accomplish three objectives by 2030:
The UN General Assembly Member States have unanimously declared 2014-2024 as the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All. Energy Access Practitioner Network lnfo[energyaccess.org www.energyaccess.org [energyaccessn Photo Credit: SELCO India Photo Credit: Eight19 2344 Energy and Womens Health High Impact Opportunity Area Multi-disciplinary initiative led by the UN Foundation in partnership with WHO and UN Women. Bringing together partners from the energy and health sectors, governments, business and civil society to develop and deliver decentralized, sustainable energy solutions to remote areas. Target regions include sub-Saharan Africa, South/ southeast Asia and parts of Americas with high maternal mortality rates. Assessments being conducted in 5 sub-Saharan Africa countries in the pilot phase.
Our Approach Identify target countries with high need, high maternal mortality, and high engagement with SE4All. Develop global evidence base linking energy access in health care facilities to health outcomes. Develop global evidence base on energy access and energy requiring equipment access for womens health interventions. Develop and promote procurement of sustainable energy sources and energy efficient medical devices critical to womens health. Develop tools for health worker education, and maintenance, training, and capacity building. Develop and implement a comprehensive communications and advocacy strategy.
Example of Practitioners We Care Solar We referred out a woman last week who had obstructed labor. The hospital staff was ready [to perform a Caesarean section], the equipment was ready, but the public utility went off at 8 p.m.," reports a midwife at a hospital in northern Nigeria. "The woman died on the way to the next hospital." Dr. Laura Stachel, WE CARE Solar hoLo credlLs: WL CA8L Solar SELCO-India Please join us!
For more information, visit www.sustainableenergyforall.org