2019

Summary: Santa Catarina village in São Tomé and Príncipe has suffered from many extreme weather events caused by climate change for over 20 years, leading to casualties and disrupting the well-being of the community. This increases the risk to public health in a country already struggling with high poverty levels. The government has decided to take a proactive approach to decrease and adapt to climate change risks, improving the country’s resilience to its impacts on health.

Background:

Santa Catarina village in Lemba district, São Tomé Island, is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, including storms, rains, floods, sea-level rise (pict.1), landslides, and droughts. These events result in the loss of crops and animals (pict.4), erosion, and damage to roads (pict.2), infrastructure, and homes (pict.3). These events also increase the risk of contracting diseases, including those of the respiratory and infectious nature, as well as chronic and degenerative conditions.

The village urgently requires risk management to address the impacts of climate change on health and the environment. Building a climate-resilient health system must involve all stakeholders, including the government, multisectorial team, and local community. The World Bank has committed $4.1 million to support this initiative and three other vulnerable communities under the Climate Change Adaptation Project for Coastal Areas (PAMCZC) and WACA.

The project will be implemented over four years, and aligns with the UNFCCC and Sendai priorities for 2015-2030.

The Challenge

The Santa Catarina village community relies on traditional fishing, agriculture, and animal production for subsistence. It is an are that is vulnerable to climate change risks, including frequent big waves that cause significant damage to their community. Additionally, they lack access to adequate sanitation and clean water facilities, and they face the added health risks posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. All of these factors increase the community’s vulnerability to health risks, compounded by the country’s limited capacity to manage these challenges.

Solutions

To address the health impacts of climate change in the area, the following interventions were carried out:

  • A risk study and cartographic mapping of the affected areas were conducted.
  • The cost and value of implementing actions and resilience measures were estimated.
  • New structures were planned and designed to be incorporated into the affected areas.
  • Local institutions/organizations and the affected community were mobilized and involved in implementing planned emergency actions and measures to prevent and improve resilience against new climate events, with a focus on public health.

Progress Achieved

Training and Awareness (pict.5):

  • Main operators (health workers, SNPC, police, military) were trained to handle emergencies, and the local risk committee was trained on first aid.
  • The community was mobilized and made aware of the health impacts of climate change, and the need to change behaviours.

 

Human Resources/Team (pict. 6 and 9):

  • Local risk management committees were created for vulnerable communities, with a health and environment alliance team that included other sectors (for example CONPREC).

 

Facilities/Infrastructures (pict. 7-12):

  • Infrastructure was built to mitigate and increase resilience in health, restore green spaces, and protect the coastal area (e.g. coastal protection barriers, breakwater, dikes, drainage channels, and planting fruit trees).
  • Solid infrastructure was constructed for resettlement of affected people, and safe expansion zones were created to transfer people at risk.
  • The community’s environmental sanitation system was reinforced, drinkable water was supplied, and some latrines were constructed by the targeted people themselves using CLTS.

Lessons Learned

Frequent and cyclic extreme weather events in various regions of the country have adverse impacts on public health. Despite ongoing measures to increase resilience, the health sector continues to struggle with the effects. Additionally, financing is needed to build capacity and develop policies that reinforce and create new actions to improve community resilience towards climate change. This will reduce risks and better prepare communities to respond quickly.

 

Next Steps

  1. Reinforce resilience against loss of coastal areas and erosion.
  2. Promote resilience of basic infrastructure, such as water, transport, driveways, telecommunication, and sanitation.
  3. Strengthen community training and work to protect personal property, goods, animals, and family agriculture.
  4. Build capacity and incorporate new technologies and equipment to provide adequate response during extreme climate emergencies.
  5. Incorporate disaster risk management at all health levels to increase system resilience.
  6. Construct safe and resilient housing in various communities to withstand the effects of climate change.
  7. Create reserved spaces for potential resettlement of vulnerable rural populations, avoiding their concentration in areas susceptible to risks.

The text of this case study is based on the submission from the case study lead organization received through the 2021 Call for case studies on health and climate change and does not endorse or reflect the views of the World Health Organization or any of its activities.