Public Health Specialists and Biotechnology Experts Call for Urgent Measures to Address Climate-Related Diseases
Public health specialists and biotechnology experts gathered on Thursday for a scientific day themed "Climate and Health," where they urged the implementation of urgent measures to combat the resurgence of climate-related diseases.
Key Recommendations
Professor Hachmi Louzir, a biotechnology and health expert, announced that participants formulated a series of recommendations aimed at limiting the health impact of global warming, particularly within the framework of the national program for accelerating the creation of a Climate-Health Observatory.
Climate-Related Diseases Already Present in Tunisia
According to Louzir, climate change, now a global and national reality, is causing the increasing spread of infectious, respiratory, cardiovascular, and mental diseases, as well as emerging new pathologies. He revealed that several climate-sensitive diseases are already present in Tunisia, including:
- Leishmaniasis
- Malta fever (brucellosis)
- West Nile fever
- Rabies "These diseases require a national prevention and control strategy adapted to new environmental risks," he stated.
Call for Coordination and Innovation
Experts recommend:
- Creating a national network for surveillance and early detection of climate-related diseases
- Strengthening specialized reference laboratories for analysis and epidemiological surveillance
- Ensuring close coordination between health sector actors and public decision-makers to guarantee a rapid and effective response
- Supporting research and innovation to develop new medicines and vaccines capable of combating emerging diseases favored by global warming.
By implementing these measures, Tunisia can better address the growing threat of climate-related diseases and protect the health and well-being of its citizens.
