Climate change is a problem that is no longer in the future, but with us.
This is according to Prof Bob Mash, a distinguished professor in family medicine at Stellenbosch University (SU) and head of the department of family and emergency medicine, in a recent forum lecture.
This lecture, titled ‘Climate change: the greatest global health threat of the 21st century’, took place on 15 September via Microsoft Teams. Around 64 people attended the lecture.
Pictured above is Prof Bob Mash, a distinguished professor in family medicine at Stellenbosch University and head of the department of family and emergency medicine. PHOTO: Supplied/Bob Mash
A year of ‘changing climates’
Mash’s lecture is the fifth of eight in the Stellenbosch Forum lecture series, according to Maryke Hunter-Husselmann, the director of research information and strategy at SU’s division for research development.
These lectures allow SU staff and students, and members of the public to learn more about the research that is done at SU, she explained via written correspondence with MatieMedia. The aim is also to present the research in an accessible way, she said.
This year, the theme of the series is ‘changing climates’, said Hunter-Hasselman.
In a recent forum lecture, Prof Bob Mash, a distinguished professor in family medicine at Stellenbosch University and head of the department of family and emergency medicine, discussed the relationships between climate change, health and health services. GRAPHIC: Bianke Neethling
‘Climate change is with us’
Mash’s lecture was focused on the relationships between climate change, health and health services.
“You really only have to look at the news over the last month to see that climate change is with us and it’s significantly impacting communities around the world,” said Mash in the lecture.
According to Mash, it was stated in the medical journal, The Lancet, that “climate change is the greatest global health threat facing the world in the 21st century”.
Mash agreed with The Lancet that climate change is also “the greatest opportunity to redefine the social and environmental determinants of health”.
The impact of certain ecological drivers, like global pollution and environmental changes, depends largely on the mediating factors in a society, such as development, wealth and governance, he stated. These factors, amongst others, will determine a society’s ability to withstand and adapt to the impact of these drivers, he said.
As Africa’s mediating factors are quite weak, these ecological drivers will have significant effects on health, explained Mash. He listed effects such as malnutrition, extreme temperatures, infectious diseases, and injuries and trauma as examples.
These effects require a climate resilient health system, said Mash.
“The forum lecture by Prof Bob Mash was really an eye-opener,” said Mosibudi Matlatse, an SU student who attended the lecture, via written correspondence with MatieMedia. “If we do not change the ways in which we are negatively impacting the environment, then the end is near and some of us might not even live to tell the tale. Now is the time – the time for us to take a stand and fix what we have destroyed.”
The last forum lecture for the year will be presented on 7 October by Prof Mark Smith, who will be discussing the topic of “A Four-day week: time to work smarter?”.
Prof Bob Mash, a distinguished professor in family medicine at Stellenbosch University and head of the department of family and emergency medicine, recently held a forum lecture on the topic of ‘climate change: the greatest global health threat of the 21st century’. VIDEO: Youtube/Division for Research Development (DRD)