Battling climate change effects amid a pandemic

OPINION

Uganda has in the recent past been hit hard by a wave of floods as a result of changes in rainfall patterns attributed to climate change. Several settlements along Lake Victoria, Lake Edward, Lake Albert, River Nile and River Nyamwamba have been washed away by floods, leading to several displacements of people, destruction of crops and other property. 

Kasese district is among the Ugandan districts that have had recurrent occurrences of floods over time, the most recent being in May this year. According to media reports, infrastructure like schools, roads, bridges, hospitals like the Kilembe Mines Hospital and other properties were damaged by the floods. 

The Uganda Red Cross Society identified the victims' immediate needs as shelter, food, beddings, mosquito nets, mobile toilets, water storage facilities and tarpaulins. 

Such conditions of displacement and overcrowding in makeshift shelters will most definitely compromise the COVID-19 response measures of social distancing, among others. Furthermore, floods are known to trigger outbreaks of water-borne diseases and malaria which will compound the vulnerabilities of the communities to COVD-19. 

While the current primary concern is responding to COVID-19, the floods in the affected areas will affect the efforts to deal with COVID-19 due to the displacement of people and the destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals.

Since such communities have to deal with both crises, building resilience against them is, therefore, crucial in order to save lives and livelihoods. An article from the Water Resources Institute on how key investments can build resilience to pandemics and climate change proposes investing in a healthcare system that addresses climate change and the pandemic. 

The key to dealing with these disasters is effective disaster management and preparedness. The major aim of Uganda's National Policy for Disaster Preparedness and Management is to ensure that the adverse effects of a hazard are minimised through effective, appropriate and timely precautionary measures as well as efficient organisation and delivery of emergency relief services. 

Adequate finance is crucial when tackling both crises. The disaster preparedness institutions, especially the district disaster committees, should, therefore, be effectively financed to respond to and manage the climate change-related disasters.

 The writer works with Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE)