Global Health: Climate Change and HIV/AIDS

[Luke Entrup]

Here's an interesting paper by UNAIDS and UNEP about the global impact of CC on HIV/AIDS. What I find most interesting is the suggestion that CC will shift malaria zones. Malaria is a primary opportunistic disease for people with compromised immune system, i.e., HIV/AIDS. It also points out that climate refugees and IDPs are less likely to have access to care and face greater food insecurity, leading to more rapid deterioration for PLWHIV/AIDS. This paper is essentially a call for greater trans-disciplinary collaboration between the cultures of CC and AIDS workers.

[Marisa Rimland]

Hi Luke - Thanks for distributing this! I haven't had a chance to read the entire working paper you've provided but the key points you discussed hone in on the broader priorities required in the development of an effective strategy for addressing climate change in the public health arena. Collaboration is going to be essential to tackling public health problems which are immediately affected by our changing climate. I imagine we'll begin to see more and more papers coming out which address specific public health concerns, such as HIV/AIDS.

[Carol Chao]

Such an important topic to consider! Were you also the person who posted the picture of Bush/AIDS is DC's Katrina - very powerful image

[Luke Entrup]

Hello Carol,
I did not post the photo. However, I sure would like to see it! As a New Orleans resident I am always curious of the perception and legacy of Katrina. I can certainly understand the correlation drawn between the two.

[Carol Chao]

Hi Luke - I didn't realized you were a resident of New Orleans. You might find this VideoVoices project interesting - female teens were given video cameras and created a video about how katrina affected New Orleans:

http://video-voice.org/video.html

Carol