Building Resilience: Addressing Climate Change Impacts on Health in Rwanda Through Systematic Approaches

Muhammed Semakula of the Rwanda Ministry of Health in Rwanda will establish an integrated data system with analytical tools to monitor and predict the effects of climate change on public health in Rwanda. The focus will be to understand the impact of temperature, rainfall, and air pollution on the top five causes of mortality: cardiovascular, diarrheal, and respiratory diseases; malnutrition; and accidents and injuries. After establishing a database of historical and current data, they will develop statistical models to assess the short- and long-term effects of climate on health. They will also launch a publicly accessible dashboard for real-time monitoring of these effects and develop educational materials and workshops on the topic. This combination of approaches will inform and engage the public while building and supporting a research community for a sustainable response to climate change.