Climate Change Effect on Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Risk

Submitted by Linda Lilian (owamazima) about 7 months ago

The high sun above the Uganda sky, famine and drought tell a story of misery, but beyond misery is the reality that with the incoming climate changes is sound opportunity for disease to defeat humans.

“Extremes in weather cause high transmission in dry seasons and for those with infections it gets worse in cold weather,” said Mathias Tumwebaze, a Public Health Lecturer at Mountains of the Moon University.

“Cold weather causes dampness and keeping in doors for long which aids transmission due to congestion,” said Rubeihayo, also a lecturer of Public Health.

“Tuberculosis is an airborne disease spread trough droplets. Airborne diseases spread faster during dry seasons because of the dust which irritates and cause cough and sneezing,” Mathias argues.

This explains the current excesses of influenza in Uganda, where the dry spell is carrying with it dry dusty winds, which are a source of nasal and throat irritation, that bring symptoms of body weakness and lowered immunity, which are not a comfort for an HIV/AIDS infected person.

“Climate change has changed the epidemiological condition of infectious diseases others have extended boundaries to other areas – non tropical area,” Rubeihayo argues. “Diseases like Malaria and Meningitis,” Mathias adds.

According to Mathias Tumwebaze, ultra violet ray heat lowers the body immunity. This unfortunately is characteristics of climate change in the extreme of heat stance it is currently taking.

A World Health Organisation Ultra Violet Radiation and InterSun Programme document states “despite these important roles and medical applications, the harmful effects of exposure to UV radiation usually far outweigh its benefits. In addition to the well-known short-term effects of overexposure to the sun such as sunburn or allergic reactions, long-term effects pose a life-long hazard to your health. Overexposure to UV radiation affects your skin, your eyes and probably your immune system. Many people forget that the effects of exposure to UV radiation accumulate over a lifetime.”

In the heat of climate change, many Ugandans are ignorant of this.

Persons with diseases like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis have an immediate risk of ultra violet radiation which further damages their already weakened immune system. Besides this drought and famine instances that have currently affect Uganda particularly the Eastern region, mean starvation, poor feeding and further body debilitation due to inadequate nutrition and feeding measures.

Current talk of climate change are alarming, however with authentic effects coming down to the human person in the crisis, deep consideration will have to be given to how it affects health circumstances.

Keywords: climate change environment HIV/AIDS influenza plhiv TB transmission Ultra violet Radaition weather

Uganda 1 comments Mail a friend Edit