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https://theconversation.com/lessons-from-cyclone-gabrielle-5-key-health-priorities-for-future-disaster-response-239392>
"“The climate crisis is a health crisis.” So says World Health Organization
Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus.
The World Economic Forum agrees. Its report this year highlighted how climate
change is taking a toll on global health due to increasingly frequent extreme
weather events.
These issues are on the official agenda here too, especially since severe
tropical cyclone Gabrielle caused extensive damage in the South-west Pacific
and northern New Zealand in early 2023.
Between February 13 and 14 it slammed into Te Tairāwhiti/East Coast and Te
Matau a Māui/Hawkes Bay, with disastrous results for the land and its
inhabitants. Communities were displaced, homes destroyed, power and
telecommunications cut, water systems compromised, and many roads and bridges
badly damaged.
Shortly after Gabrielle hit, Manatū Hauora/Ministry of Health commissioned us
to investigate the impacts of adverse weather events on health systems and
community health and wellbeing.
Our community research teams interviewed 143 residents in the two affected
regions. They included first responders, heath workers, council staff and
members of the public. Their stories were emotional, powerful and insightful.
Our recently published report amplifies these community voices and local
knowledge, and offers recommendations about planning for future, inevitable
events. Here we offer five key messages."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
