Outcomes of a Climate Change Workshop at the 2020 African Conference on Emergency Medicine.

Caitlin Rublee, Corey Bills, Elzarie Theron, Petra Brysiewicz, Swasthi Singh, Ivy Muya, Wayne Smith, On-Emore Akpevwe, Lawan Abdulrazaq Ali, Enoch Dauda, Emilie Calvello Hynes
Author Information
  1. Caitlin Rublee: Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
  2. Corey Bills: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
  3. Elzarie Theron: Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
  4. Petra Brysiewicz: School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
  5. Swasthi Singh: International SOS, Cape Town, South Africa.
  6. Ivy Muya: African Federation for Emergency Medicine, Nursing Committee Chair, Cape Town, South Africa.
  7. Wayne Smith: Division of Emergency Medicine and Provincial Government of the Western Cape, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
  8. On-Emore Akpevwe: Obule Medical Center, Delta State, Nigeria.
  9. Lawan Abdulrazaq Ali: Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
  10. Enoch Dauda: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
  11. Emilie Calvello Hynes: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.

Abstract

A changing climate will have demonstrable effects on health and healthcare systems, with specific and disproportionate effects on communities in Africa. Emergency care systems and providers have an opportunity to be at the forefront of efforts to combat the worst health effects from climate change. The 2020 African Conference on Emergency Medicine, under the auspices of the African Federation for Emergency Medicine, convened its first ever workshop on the topic of climate change and human health. Structured as a full day virtual course, the didactic sections were available for both live and asynchronous learning with more than 100 participants enrolled in the course. The workshop introduced the topic of the health effects of climate as they relate to emergency care in Africa and provided a forum to discuss ideas regarding the way forward. Lectures and focused discussions addressed three broad themes related to: health impacts, health care delivery, and advocacy. To our knowledge, this is the first workshop for health professionals to cover topics specific to emergency care, climate change, and health in Africa. The results of this workshop will help to guide future efforts aimed at advancing emergency care approaches in Africa with regard to medical education, research, and policy.
AFRICAN RELEVANCE: •Climate-related extreme weather events are adversely affecting health and health care delivery in African countries.•African organisations, cities, and nations have taken positive steps to adapt and build climate resilience.•There are opportunities for emergency care professionals and scholars to continue to expand, and lead, climate and health education, research, and policy initiatives on the continent.

Keywords

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