El Niño's health threat

The impending El Niño is a reminder that the world remains woefully unprepared for the public health consequences of extreme weather. The World Health Organisation has warned that the climate phenomenon poses a significant threat to global health, with its effects likely to be felt well into 2027. As global temperatures continue to rise, extreme weather events are becoming an increasingly serious challenge to public health systems that are already struggling to meet routine healthcare needs. For millions living in poverty, the distinction between a climate emergency and a health emergency is becoming increasingly meaningless. There is a disturbing inequity at the heart of this crisis. Countries with limited healthcare resources and inadequate sanitation are often the least capable of protecting their populations from climate-related diseases. WHO has cautioned that the effects of El Niño will be particularly severe where climate shocks intersect with food insecurity, displacement and weak health systems. Yet international climate responses continue to place insufficient emphasis on the protection of public health. The international community must recognise that climate adaptation is as much about protecting human health as it is about safeguarding infrastructure and economic activity. Pakistan is particularly exposed to this predicament. The catastrophic floods of 2022 demonstrated how a natural disaster can develop into a prolonged public health emergency when healthcare facilities and access to safe drinking water are compromised. The country's vulnerability is further compounded by the limited reach of preventive healthcare and the persistent neglect of basic sanitation. The government must recognise that the country's vulnerability is not simply a consequence of its geography. It is also a reflection of the persistent failure to invest adequately in preventive healthcare and climate-resilient infrastructure. International assistance will remain important, but it cannot compensate for the absence of sustained domestic planning.