Malawi - Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment

Abstract

Malawi faces significant climate-related challenges that directly and indirectly impact health. Coupled with human-made health stressors, climate change can exacerbate the existing health burdens while creating new health risks. Changes in the temperature and precipitation patterns affect the geographic range and burden of a variety of climate-sensitive health risks while impacting the functioning and capacity of Malawi’s health system. Climate change-related challenges that increase Malawi’s vulnerability to poor health outcomes include a wide range of climate hazards, such as extreme temperature and humidity conditions, potential changes to precipitation patterns, extreme precipitation events, seasonal aridity, droughts, and cyclones. The country is affected by these climate hazards due to its geographical position; a strong dependency on rainfed agriculture, which is susceptible to regular climatic shocks; ongoing population growth; chronic and widespread malnutrition; as well as the high prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS. Considering Malawi’s high exposure and vulnerability to climate change, the World Bank, through the Health Climate and Environment Program (HCEP), is conducting a Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment (CHVA). The objective of this CHVA is to assist decision-makers with planning effective adaptation measures to address climate-related health risks.