Asian Development Bank, Centre to open climate change and health centre in Delhi
Context
India plans to open a climate change and health hub in New Delhi in partnership with the Asian Development Bank after securing the first WHO Centre for Global Traditional Medicine in Gujarat.
What is the Asian Development Bank?
On December 19, 1966, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was founded as a regional development institution. The Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, the Philippines, houses its headquarters. The main objective of ADB is to advance social and economic development in Asia. The bank operates 31 field offices globally to do this. It was established to promote collaboration and growth among its member nations.
What are the Objectives and functions?
- As a development bank, ADB supports initiatives in Asia that promote development by offering funding, technical know-how, and other resources.
- Its main objectives are to lessen poverty, promote sustainable economic growth, and enhance locals’ quality of life.
Establishment of WHO Centre for Global Traditional Medicine:
- Gujarat will house the first WHO Center for Global Traditional Medicine, which India has secured.
- The centre will concentrate on traditional medicine-related global health issues.
- Its objectives include assuring the effectiveness, safety, accessibility, and reasonable application of conventional medicine.
- It will establish rules, standards, and norms for the numerous technical facets of conventional medicine.
- The centre will also work on developing strategies and tools for this field’s data collection and analytics.
Climate Change and Health Hub in New Delhi:
- India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are collaborating to build New Delhi’s climate change and health hub.
- The hub’s main goal is to examine how climate change influences health.
- It will provide a forum for many partners to communicate and work together on challenges relating to climate change.
- The hub will encourage information exchange, creative thinking, and learning among various stakeholders.
Link Between Climate Change and Health:
- India admits in the G-20 result paper that there are serious health effects from climate change.
- Infectious diseases may emerge or reappear as a result of climate change.
- Climate change is making natural catastrophes more severe and frequent, endangering the ability of health systems to deliver crucial services.
- If not properly handled, the effects of climate change on health could overwhelm health services.
Prioritizing Climate-Resilient Health Systems:
- India is aware of the need to strengthen the capacity of health systems to withstand the effects of climate change.
- The goal is to create health systems that can resist difficulties brought on by the climate.
- Health systems with minimal carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions are a top priority.
- The objective is to continue providing top-notch healthcare despite setbacks caused by the climate.
Collaboration and Initiatives:
- India pledges to develop health systems that are resilient to climate change.
- To create resilient, low-carbon health systems and healthcare supply networks, resources will be mobilized.
- The importance of collaboration is shown by programs like the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), which is led by the WHO.
- The goal is to bring together many stakeholders to address the effects of climate change on health in detail.
Overall Implication:
- Global health concerns are being addressed holistically through India’s initiatives.
- These initiatives show a dedication to maintaining conventional medicine, combating climate change, and assuring healthcare resilience.
- India’s strategy may help other countries effectively solve comparable issues in the future.
