Weather and climate information services (WCIS) into use for health
This paper aims to provide an introduction to WCIS in relation to the health sector by addressing three main questions:
- How is Kenya’s burden of disease impacted by the environmental determinants of health, such as safe water and clean air, weather conditions and climate change?
- What are the main WCIS in Kenya and how are they provided at the County level to the health sector?
- What benefits could WCIS tailored to healthcare providers needs bring?
The paper highlights that the Kenyan Meteorological Department (KMD) must coordinate and strengthen observation stations across the country, equip observation stations, including mobile ones, to systematically collect data on air quality and make it publicly accessible. Funding schemes must be designed in a way that supports the co-production of WCIS across sectors and create accountability to address the needs of end-users from the health sector. The main factors limiting targeted forecasts for different sectors and specific locations are limited resources – human, financial and equipment. WCIS providers can draw lessons from the Maintains programme6 for building the climate shock-responsiveness of Kenya’s health system.
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