CLIMATE CHANGE
AND HEALTH NEWS
WHO’s Actions on
Climate and Health
WHO is committed to work with
Member States and other partners to
protect and promote health in response
to the threat of climate change.
Why climate change matters to
health:
• Besides environmental and economic
damage, the ultimate impact of
climate takes a toll on our most
precious resource - human lives and
health.
• The responsibility for protecting lives
and well-being ultimately falls on the
health sector. Investing in health
protection and adaptation can save
lives now and increase resilience to
climate change.
• Well-designed mitigation policies in
sectors such as energy and transport,
can bring large immediate co-benefits
for public health.
• Health sector activities and
infrastructure are energy intensive.
Reducing their environmental
footprint can play an important role
in reducing global greenhouse gas
emissions.
R E G I O N A L A N D L O C A L H E A LT H O F F I C E S G I V E S
O R I E N TAT I O N O N C L I M AT E C H A N G E A D A P TAT I O N
The Center for Health and Development
(CHD) in the National Capital Region cascaded
the Climate Change Adaptation in Health
(CCAH) to staff of the Environmental Cluster.
They, in turn, oriented the sanitary inspectors
at the local level.
The CHD NCR has strengthened its
assistance to the LGUs in the campaign
against dengue by developing and issuing
its own Dengue Policy. Also, treated bed
nets were distributed and continuous fogging
activities were carried out.
Part of the LGUs support to mitigate the
impact of climate change are : a) turning off
of lights during lunch break; b) turning on air
condition units only at 9am and turning them
off at 4pm; c) changing of fluorescent lamps
to CFL and computers monitor /screen to
LCD; d) leaking pipes in their offices were
fixed; and e) waste segregation is also being
practiced.
Under the new CHD director, Dr. Eduardo
Janairo, a Climate Change Unit (with 4
DOH AO - 0005 S.2012 SIGNED
The Department of Health
Administrative Order No. 0005 series
of 2012 - National Policy on Climate
Change Adaptation for the Health
Sector, was signed by DOH Secretary
Enrique Ona on March 2012. The
Administrative Order gives the overall
direction on how climate change and
health activities will be pursued by
the health sector.
The National Policy on Climate
Change Adaptation for Health
Sector will provide the Department
of Health (DOH) direction for
developing climate change and
health impacts initiative. The AO
was established to develop and
implement Climate Change for
Health programs that supports the
achievement of Universal Health
Care and Millennium Development
Goals directed to increase the
capacity of these health programs
in managing the impacts of Climate
Change on Health. This will lead to
identified staff) has been specified under
the proposed Engineering and Civil Works
Center as part of the functional restructuring
done by the CHD in support of Kalusugang
Pangkalahatan thrust of the DOH.
The Provincial Health Officer (PHO) in
Albay also shared the learning with the rest
of the PHO employees during the regular
conference. The Climate Change and Health
Module was integrated into the Barangay Health
Workers (BHW) Training Design with one
batch of BHW training conducted in Barangay
Manito. Officers of the BHW Federation were
also oriented during their quarterly meeting.
In Pateros, Manila, education and
information campaign on climate change has
reached several stakeholders. A total of 27
community leaders assigned in the urban poor
areas received CCAH orientation, who in turn,
oriented a total of 100 members of the Urban
Poor Association in Pateros. ....
continuation on page 2
ISSUE NO. 1 SERIES OF 2012
mainstream and integrate CC into
the existing DOH programs for ease
of understanding and sustainability.
The signing of the administrative
order is one of the outputs assisted
by the Climate Change Adaptation for
Health (CCAH) Project with MDGF
1656 assistance. The project is a
collaboration of the Department of
Health, the World Health Organization
along with selected Local Government
Units (LGUs) in the National Capital
Region (NCR) and the Bicol Region.
MDGF in Health Objectives
• Strengthen early warning and
surveillance systems for climate
change sensitive diseases.
• Strengthen emergency and disaster
preparedness and response for
effects of climate change.
• Enhance knowledge and skills of
health workforce on prevention
and management of climate change
sensitive diseases and mitigating
and adapting to Climate Change.
• Increase public awareness and
action on prevention of CC-
sensitive diseases.
• Document best practices on health
adaptation strategy to climate
change and develop a template
for replication/up scaling.

2
REGIONAL... from page 1
The Municipal Health Office’s (MHO)
current program on Batang Emergency
Response Teams also conducted a CCAH
orientation in all schools in Pateros covering
a total of 80 elementary and 20 high school
students.
The MHO ensures that CCAH will be
included in disaster management trainings after
the successful orientation given to the more
than 85 municipal employees.
Albay Governor Joey Salceda stressing the importance to the impact of climate change. Such activities the national strategy.
of CCA to prevent future disasters
ALBAY ORIENTATION
In Sto. Domingo, Albay climate change indorsing the DOH National Framework on Climate include topics related to the science of climate change
orientation was integrated into the 2 batches Change and Health Adaptation.
of training conducted among barangay officials.
The midwives and sanitary inspectors were able
to cascade what they learned to their respective
BHWs during the staff meeting.
In Guinobatan, Albay, the mayor issued
an executive order in support to climate
change and a resolution was also passed by
the Sangguniang Pambayan in support of the and education campaign, advocacy kits diseases such as cholera, dengue, leptospirosis
same.
CLIMATE CHANGE
AND HEALTH NEWS
A project of the Department of Health
in collaboration with the World Health Organization
with funding support from MDGF
© Department of Health & World Health Organization 2012
The preparation and publication of this document was made
possible through the assistance of the Millennium Development
Goal Funds (MDG-F) 1656 Climate Change Project.
This document is published by the Department of Health and
the World Health Organization (WHO) for general distribution.
All rights reserved. Subject to the acknowledgement of DOH
and WHO, this Newsletter may be freely abstracted, reproduced
or translated in part or in whole for non-commercial purposes
only. If the entire work or substantial portions will be translated
or reproduced, permission should be requested from the Climate
Change Unit of EOHO –NCDPC, Department of Health, San
Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue corner Tayuman, Sta. Cruz,
Manila.
The Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) does not warrant that the information
contained in this publication is complete and correct and shall
not be liable for any damage incurred as a result of its use.
CLIMATE CHANGE
AND HEALTH NEWS
CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH PROJECT
REACHES FINAL STAGE OF IMPLEMENTATION
The Department of Health in collaboration with A DOH Personnel Order was passed on
the World Health Organization along with selected creating a Technical Committee on Climate Change
C
Local Government Units (LGUs) in the National and Health and the formation of the Climate Change
Capital Region (NCR) and Bicol Region implemented Unit in support of the program. D
the Climate Change Adaptation for Health (CCAH) c
Project with MDGF – 1656 assistance. A DOH Administrative Order on Mainstreaming v
Climate Change into Health Programs was issued
According to Dr. Cecile Magturo — DOH in 2012. An Operational Guideline to implement the d
Program Manager for Climate Change, “one of Administrative Order was drafted and expected to be th
the best outputs assisted by the project is the signed before end of 2012. c
development of the Department Administrative
C
Order on Climate Change and Health signed by the All relevant policies on Climate Change and
Secretary of Health on March 2012. Health were compiled in a handbook intended for M
the use of LGUs and their health workers. c
The Administrative Order gives the overall
direction, approaches and strategies on how climate Impact of the Climate Change and
change and health activities will be pursued by the Health Project on DOH Management s
health sector.” a
The Climate Change and Health Project has o
Policy Development on influenced the programs of the Department of Health.
Climate Change and Health a
A Climate Change Unit under the Environmental T
Since the enactment of the Philippine Climate and Occupational Health was created to oversee id
Change Act of 2009, the Department of Health has and manage all activities related to climate change.
c
developed policies that will support its activities The Technical Committee on Climate Change was
towards strengthening the health sector’s response formed as a venue of coordination for implementing a
a
include the following: to
Moreover, DOH allocated funds to CHDs to
A Department Circular was issued in 2010 support training activities for 2012. Such activities will in
e
and health vulnerability and capacity assessment.
Health Promotion Through Awareness and
Advocacy Campaigns
For the climate change information Posters and flyers on climate sensitive
were prepared for local chief executives and measles were disseminated.
and health service providers, both of which The flyers describe the particular
contained climate change sheets. These sickness, how one can get it, ways to
sheets defined climate change, explained the prevent it, symptoms and cures. The
Climate Change Act, gave examples on how posters cited ways of how to prevent these
to counteract the effects and also described illnesses. Additional posters on disaster
the possible consequences of climate change management were made and printed.
on health. These gave warnings on floods, health
For health service providers, these effects, and the danger of living near water
sheets defined climate change, explained the bodies as well as encouraged readers to
Climate Change Act and presented charts on follow the advice of local governments
the links with health and DOH programs. during times of calamities.
 CLIMATE CHANGE
3
AND HEALTH NEWS

V U L N E R A B I L I T Y O F M ET R O M A N I L A C I T I E S O N T H E
H E A LT H I M PA C T O F C L I M AT E C H A N G E
on An assessment on the Impact of
ge Climate Change on Health conducted for
ge
DOH, NEDA and WHO revealed that many
cities in Metro Manila are vulnerable to
ng vector and water-borne diseases; such as
ed
he dengue, typhoid, cholera and leptospirosis,
be that are triggered by climate change. Four
cities and a municipality in the National
Capital Region, namely: Taguig, Pasig,
nd
or Marikina, Quezon City and Pateros were
covered in the study.
The climate change and health impact
study investigated the distribution of
aforementioned climate-sensitive diseases
as over time and space in Metro Manila
h.
and related them to climate variability.
al The most susceptible populations were
ee identified as well as their adaptation
e.
capacity. The results of the study served
as
ng as the bases for the formulation and
adoption of policies and action programs
to mitigate the impacts of climate change
to
ill in spreading the diseases, inform and
ge educate residents, improve health care
nt.
level of adaptive capacity to dengue and
leptospirosis is high but to typhoid and
cholera it is medium.
Marikina – level of adaptive capacity to
dengue is high; to typhoid and leptospirosis
is medium; and to cholera is low.
Quezon City – level of adaptive
capacity to all four diseases is high.
A grade of high is given if the health
systems and strengthen capacities of system is well equipped to respond to
health centers to respond to emergency the disease and has the ability to prevent
situations. transmission. A grade of medium is given
In the assessment of the capacity if the health system is equipped with the
and readiness of the health facilities and basic features in the three key areas of
systems in the five cities to respond to technology, information and skills and
climate change sensitive diseases, the institution (gaps could include lack of
following findings were reported: equipment and/or computerized systems
for reporting). A low grade is given if the
Pateros – level of adaptive capacity to capacity is lacking in all the parameters
dengue, typhoid, cholera and leptospirosis of technology, information and skills and
is high. institution (additional gaps could include
Pasig – level of adaptive capacity lack of trained personnel, no information
to the four diseases is high Taguig – available and/or no policies in place).

The “News Bearer” Barangay Captain of Legaspi City

Barangay Captain Teresita R. Alisago
was awarded as the most outstanding
ve
barangay captain, she is now in her
is
third term in Barangay 3 Em’s Bo. East
in Legaspi City. Her barangay is one of
ar
the four selected barangays designated
o
to host the Event –Based Surveillance
e
and Response in the Community (ESRC .
e
There has been no difficulty convincing
er
the barangay captain and her staff to
d.
accept the hosting of the ESRC unit after
h
having been oriented on the importance
er
of the ESRC. As part of the barangay’s
o
commitment to sustain the project
ts
initiative, a budget was allocated to
the monthly maintenance for internet
“By taking action
on climate change,
you are protecting
Human Health.”
connection to enable in uploading of
cases detected and verified for reporting
to the CESU level onto the project website
center at DOH-Manila.
SMALL ACTIONS, BIG IMPACT
To illustrate the Barangay Captain’s
bold initiative there were three cases of
dengue detected and verified, Brgy. Capt.
Alisago and her secretary immediately
proceeded to the neighbourhood where
the cases were reported. After checking Bearer” for events, symptoms and
the surroundings, she ordered a clean up illnesses for verification and immediate
of the area and made a call to maintain action. Being a small-sized barangay
a clean surrounding which permeated with only 56 households, she knows
to her constituents. In addition, using her constituents and has the habit of
old calendars and manila papers, they asking the whereabouts of her people.
adapted the Dengue poster developed This action of knowing the condition of
by the DOH and came up with their own her constituents resulted to appropriate
locally-made IEC materials, posted in
several houses and establishments in the
medical help.
Brgy. Capt. Teresita Alisago’s
neighbourhood.
The Barangay Captain knows that
leadership will surely be missed and
definitely remembered. Her leadership
for community-based surveillance to be should be an example for other
effective, everyone has to be a “News communities.

4
Preparation of Research Studies and Instructional Manuals
T he following study reports and manuals
were produced through the demonstration
project
• Study on the Use of Climate Change
Variables to Predict Dengue Cases.
This study established the effects of
temperature, humidity and water on the
spread of dengue.
• Study on “Assessment of Vulnerability
and Adaptability of Albay and Metro
Manila on the Impact of Climate Change
on “Health” was completed as part of
the tool development objective of the
demonstration project.
• Event-based Surveillance and Response
System for the Community (ESRC)
developed an Operations manual and
ESRC web manual. The ESRC is part of
the DOH’s Philippine Integrated Disease
Surveillance and Response (PIDSR)
system.
ESRC is a community event-based
surveillance system for early detection of
epidemic prone diseases and other public
health threats. It involves an informal
gathering of data from the barangay
communities and other local institutional
sources.
• Surveillance in Post Extreme Emergencies
and Disasters (SPEED) system produced
a field operations manual for use of health
institutions and their workers. SPEED is
intended for use of Health Emergency
Staff of DOH. SPEED is an early warning
system for diseases monitoring after a
disaster for the purpose of mobilizing
logistics. The system is web-based and
mobile phone based.
SPEED was developed through AusAID
funding applied in pilot areas of NCR and
Albay and expanded to the entire Bicol
region.
CLIMATE CHANGE
AND HEALTH NEWS
from page 3
NOTABLE OUTPUTS
1. Design and installation of the Model
System for Early Warning and Surveillance
(EWS) for climate-related diseases in
Marikina and Legaspi City
2. Development of three (3) protocol manuals
as guide in the operationalization of the
event-based surveillance and response
system with the core function of case
detection, verification and response
3. Vulnerability assessment and identification
of gaps of hospitals in NCR and the Bicol
Region after the training of 61 public and
private hospitals as part of DOH Safe
Hospital Program.
LESSONS LEARNED
A number of lessons learned were drawn
from the 3-year implementation and these can
be summarized as follows:
• The design and pilot of CCAH initiatives
demanded an iterative process before
these can be ready for roll out, hence
adopting alternative options and making
adjustments in the process with extended
implementation period are necessary for
successful pilots;
• Designs and mechanisms should be
responsive to local needs and peculiarities.
Consultations in design, planning and
implementation of initiatives are necessary
to generate ownership;
• Concepts, frameworks and policies
to mitigate climate change impacts in
health takes time to be operationalized
into concrete measures and actions thus
requiring further deliberations;
• There is a need to integrate CCAH into
an existing promotion activities of the
various health programs, during disaster
management and environmental meetings
at all levels of operations since these
served as avenues where CCAH can be
cascaded to the different stakeholders;
• Monitoring the initial results of MDGF
activities is a critical step to ensure that
these translate to better outcome, and
to act on operational issues that may be
hindering ground implementation;
• The training video on impacts of climate
change can be an effective tool in
mobilizing support for CCAH;
• Resources from various donors and
development partners are vital to enhance
national and local government’s capacities
to adapt to climate change;
• Optimize the use of resources by avoiding
duplication of similar initiatives being
undertaken parallel to each other, also ,
avoid delayed submissions of deliverables
and non-utilization of project outputs as
originally intended.
THE WAY FORWARD
• Update the DOH Action Plan on Climate
Change and incorporate the Sustainability
Plan developed at the end of the project..
• Fast track and concretize the on-going
formulation of implementing guidelines on
CCAH to a level that gives clear direction
and guide for the national, regional and
local health offices.
• The DOH should specify the office under
which CCAH will be subsumed with steps
that lead to designation of staff to handle
the program.
• Once the 2012-2016 Strategic Plan has
been developed with estimated investment
requirements, it is important for a high level
advocacy among top DOH management,
DBM and the legislative bodies for the
allocation of government funds to support
the program; and
• Mobilization of resources for CCAH must
encompass donor community, development
partners at the national and international
level including the private sector. LGU
contributions must also be defined
particularly in the actual operationalization
of the various components to the CCAH
program.
References:
1. Villa, Eireen (2012). Documentation
of Climate Change and Health Project
prepared for WHO and DOH.
2. UP-Planades (2012). Documentation of
Health Component of Climate Change
Project prepared for NEDA.
3. Paraso, Glen (2011). Health Vulnerability
and Capacity Assessment Report
prepared for WHO and DOH.