Climate Change and Healthcare Sustainability in the Agincourt Sub-District, Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region, South Africa

Monika Dos Santos,Saul Kornik,Pieter Kruger,David Howard,Arnaud Banos

doi:10.3390/su11020496

Abstract

As low-income communities are most vulnerable to climate-associated health concerns, access to healthcare will increase in importance as a key priority in South Africa. This study explores healthcare sustainability in the Agincourt sub-district, Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region in Mpumalanga, South Africa. A rapid assessment and response methodology (RAR) was implemented, which includes the examination of previous studies conducted in the sub-district, the mapping of healthcare facilities in the area, and the implementation of a facility infrastructure and workforce capacity investigation by means of key informant (KI) interviews at eight healthcare facilities. Findings indicate that the greatest need across the facilities relate to access to medical doctors and pharmacists. None of the facilities factored climate associations with health into their clinical care strategies. The necessity to train healthcare facility staff on aspects related to climate change, health, and sustainability is highlighted. Environmental health practitioners should also be incorporated in grassroots community climate adaptation strategies. Outcomes further indicate the need for the advancement of integrated healthcare and climate adaptation strategies that focus on strengthening healthcare systems, which may include novel technological approaches such as telemedicine. Policy makers need to be proactive and pre-emptive in finding and improving processes and models to render healthcare services prepared for climate change.

Highlights

Climate change impacts human wellbeing and health, from the capacity to gain sustenance from land and the oceans, to the escalation and aggravation of infections and viruses [1]
The rapid assessment and response (RAR) method was originally developed by the University of London for World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS [52,53,54,55,56]—and is appropriate for exploring difficulties within public health without resorting to ‘unscientific’ conjecture; it simultaneously assimilates data for tangible intervention planning; and within the context of this study has been adapted to explore sustainable healthcare service capacities against the backdrop of climate change [57]
Data was analysed from eight key informant (KI) healthcare facility staff survey interviews, namely three acting charge sisters, one charge sister (PHC), two professional nurses, one deputy charge sister (PHC), and one technical assistance manager (CHC))

Summary

Introduction

Climate change impacts human wellbeing and health, from the capacity to gain sustenance from land and the oceans, to the escalation and aggravation of infections and viruses [1]. Climate change effects will be unevenly distributed; the economies and societies of low-and middle-income states are especially susceptible due to their relatively higher reliance on climate-sensitive resources and reserves compared to developed economies [1]. King [6] emphasises that many low-and middle-income states are demographically trapped, in that some communities have surpassed, or are predicted to surpass, the carrying capacity of their indigenous ecologies. Such barriers to sustainable development are evidenced by the impact of adverse climatic conditions on a population’s susceptibility to communicable diseases, malnourishment, and famine. Legislation, assets and responses to assist individuals and biophysical systems—especially those who are the most vulnerable—have been circumscribed in breadth and range [8]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion