Long-term solutions vital to mitigate health impacts of floods, drought and fires

In the wake of devastating floods in Northern Queensland and bushfires in Victoria, rural communities in these regions are grappling with significant health impacts that will have long-term consequences.

Extreme weather events, occurring more frequently due to climate change, exacerbate food insecurity, spread vector-borne diseases, and cause outbreaks among animals, which in turn increase stress among rural farmers and jeopardise their livelihoods.

“We urge swift action and coordinated efforts to support these communities that are already challenged with lack of healthcare access, both in the immediate aftermath and in the years to come,” said Susi Tegen, Chief Executive of the National Rural Health Alliance.

The flooding in Northern Queensland has submerged agricultural land and forced residents to evacuate, causing physical damage and triggering a rise in waterborne diseases, mental health issues, and respiratory conditions. Rural communities face heightened risks of infections as a result.

The Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) calls for a focus on resourcing primary care, particularly in driving long-term preparedness and resilience of health services to meet climate and health risks. Rural communities in particular will benefit from this, where climate impacts are already being felt substantially. 
 

“Health professionals are valued members of rural communities and have to balance the personal impacts of fire and flood with the increases in demand for care services at work,” said Michelle Isles, CEO of the Climate and Health Alliance.

“Health professionals are not currently equipped to deal with the frequency and scale of climate change events. In recent weeks we have observed hospital admissions rise and health services unable to evacuate from fire zones, adding to mounting pressure. Education and training can help and should be resourced and rolled out alongside ensuring adequate staffing levels, addressing burnout, and providing mental health support for health professionals,” Ms Isles added.

“We join the Climate and Health Alliance in advocating for funding of the National Health and Climate Strategy to mitigate climate impacts on health professionals, rural communities and their livelihoods. We also call for the establishment of a National Rural Health Strategy with rural health funding that would incorporate policies and initiatives to mitigate and address the impacts of disastrous weather patterns on the health and wellbeing of rural Australians,” Ms Tegen added.

“We call for immediate and ongoing support for rural communities and urge both state and federal governments to collaborate in bolstering resources for medical and health services, ensuring that rural populations are better prepared during extreme weather events,” Ms Tegen said.

“Long-term measures, including increased investment in climate change adaptation strategies, are essential to support our rural populations, who contribute significantly to Australia’s economy,” she added.

The National Rural Health Alliance (the Alliance) comprises 52 national organisations committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the over 7 million people in rural and remote Australia. Our diverse membership includes representation from health professional organisations, health service providers, health educators, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector and students. The Climate and Health Alliance is Australia’s peak body on climate and health. CAHA is a coalition of 100+ health and medical groups, academic and research institutions, health care service providers and unions.