Intensified impacts of shifting environmental and weather patterns are badly affecting the Children health. Globally, Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to cope with the climatic changes, said Coordinator to Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam here on Wednesday. In a discussion for boosting collaboration in protecting children from adverse impacts of climate change, Romina Khurshid said these words with the Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Pakistan, Abdullah A. Fadil.

She said, “Pakistani children are facing the intensifying climate risks. Extreme weather events such as floods, heat waves, droughts, glacial lake outburst floods and shifting rainfall patterns threaten their health, education, and overall well-being”. She said that we have learned from recent climate change-caused disasters in Pakistan is that the climate disruptions are disproportionately affecting children, who are particularly sensitive to environmental changes due to their developing bodies and lower adaptive capacity. To protect future of the younger generation, it is important to frame strong policies.

Suggesting sectoral interventions, the PM’s climate aide said that investing in healthcare infrastructure and services to address climate-induced health challenges, with a focus on maternal and child health for strengthening overall health systems; building resilient educational facilities and implementing strategies to ensure that children’s education is not disrupted by climate events so as to ensuring educational continuity.

Ms. Alam said, “Supporting mental health by providing mental health services and psychosocial support to children affected by climate-related stress and trauma and; lastly building resilience of vulnerable communities by prioritising climate adaptation efforts in rural and low-income areas to protect the most at-risk children are inevitable policy measures that are needed for overall protection of the children under 15 from exacerbating impacts of climate change.

The UNICEF’s country representative assured the PM's climate aide Romina Khurshid Alam of his organisation’s all-out technical and non-technical support to the government’s efforts being taken for tackling climate vulnerability among children. During the meeting held here on Wednesday, both sides pledged to work closely to protect children from devastating consequences of climate change-caused disasters, particularly floods and diseases.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)