Climate and Health Vulnerability & Adaptation Assessment – Manaus, Brazil
The city of Manaus, Brazil, is situated at the confluence of Negro, Amazon and Purus rivers that govern the region’s hydrology, together with the Amazon forest that surrounds it. The flow of goods and people depends on the network of rivers, which makes the city unique in the world, being at the same time large, modern and vulnerable to environmental and climate changes. The water level of Rio Negro has been a strong regulator of city’s economic and social dynamics, since its foundation. The persistence of wooden houses built on stilts ( palafitas ) is an example of adaptation of the local population to the climatic variability. In this and several other cases, changes in the river water level are assimilated by the inhabitants, if these variations occur within a range that does not compromise the operation of transportation systems, sanitation, water and food supply. Major changes, such as prolonged droughts as well as floodings, may cause the collapse of these systems. Both extreme climate events occurred in city during 2009, leading to a perception that climate changes are already affecting the city.
Due to the increasing concern of local authorities and general population, the study focused on water regime and water related diseases as a major climate change threat. In the second step of the study routine data was collected and gather to calculate environmental, socioeconomic, climate and health indicators. Basic statistical tolls were used to aggregate data and build time series and maps. This work was performed in the Health Information Department, at Fiocruz. This activity produced a preliminary report that was distributed among all participants (stakeholders). The final activity was a workshop during which the preliminary report was discussed by the group. The report brought evidences on the relationship between river water regime and the transmission of selected diseases (malaria, dengue, leptospirosis, hepatitis A, and infant mortality by diarrhoea). The main factors acting on dynamics of disease transmission arose from data interpretation by the stakeholders. The report also described the city historical and socioeconomic characteristics, the current health services status and its epidemiological profile. The last chapter of the report showed the secular and seasonal trends of hydrological and climate variables. This item created a base for the debate about the future of the city. It was possible to project the effect of changes in water regime on health conditions. The identification of vulnerable social groups emerged from the debate on the likely mechanisms acting between climate variations and health effects. The group highlighted the different origins and vulnerabilities of deprived social groups, such as indigenous people, migrants from the eastern Amazon region and from other regions of the country, traditional riverside inhabitants ( ribeirinhos ) among others. It was emphasized that the climate factors alone doesn’t represent a threat for health conditions. The climate and health relationships are intermediated by other important societal and economic factors, such as the health preventive and curative actions (surveillance, primary attention, hospitals, etc.).
Contacts at MoH, for climate and health related issues Guilherme Franco Netto: Head of Environmental Health and Workers Health Department, Secretary of Health Surveillance, Brazilian Health Ministry - [email protected]
Valcler Rangel Fernandes: Deputy president of Environment, Health Attention and Health Promotion, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Health Ministry - [email protected]
Christovam Barcellos: Senior Researcher, Leader of the Climate and Health Observatory, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Health Ministry – [email protected]