Sustainable Human Health Solutions
A secondary effect of climate change is an increased occurance of
infectious disease. One of the causes is due to the migration of
disease vector insects from warmer climates into the formerly cooler
climate zones. The yellow mosquito that can carry malaria is one
example, as its range appears to be expanding.
It has been argued that a decrease in the amount of international
shipping, especially air flight, would help with the problem of
introducing non-native species, as long as shipping remains even as well
regulated as it is now. Of course, if shipping became unregulated to
the point that rampant smuggling was bringing goods instead of drugs
across maritime borders, potentially devastating bugs could get loose,
as was the case earlier this century with the outbreak of cholera in
Mexico.
As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Sustainable
health care is no different. The focus remains on prevention, as it
should be. That means encouraging healthy eating habits and plenty of
exercise, as many HMOs and other health “organizations” are doing. In
Canada where government policies drive the national health care system,
change can be slower. However, anyone can make common sense lifestyle
and diet changes on their own to reduce their need for health care.
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