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Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare digitally addressed the first meeting of the World Health Organization High-Level Coalition on Health and Energy Platform of Action
About WHO High-Level Coalition on Health and Energy Platform of Action
- The High Level Coalition on Health and Energy, convened by the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, is comprised of leaders from governments supporting HEPA as well as leaders from selected international organizations and other high level health and energy champions.
- The objective of the High Level Coalition is to strengthen high-level cooperation between health and energy sectors, increase political momentum, spur investments, mobilize public support and drive practical solutions.
- In 2019, WHO with UNDP, UN DESA and World Bank, International Renewable Energy Agency, and other key stakeholders established the Health and Energy Platform of Action (HEPA).
- This Platform aims to build the political, and financial commitment and as well as strengthen the capacity of the health and energy sectors to work together to ensure universal access to clean and sustainable energy to protect health.
- The long-term vision of the Global Platform is to improve the health and livelihoods of the poorest populations through the adoption of clean and sustainable energy.
- With an initial focus on clean cooking and health care facility electrification, the Platform aims to catalyse the scale of results required to achieve SDG 3 on health, SDG 7 on energy and others on gender (goal 5) and climate (goal 13)
India’s initiatives in this regard
National Action Plan on Climate Change and Human Health:
- It was constituted by the Union government with the multiple objectives of creating awareness amongst the general population, health-care providers and policy makers regarding impact of climate change on human health.
- This expert body submitted its report recently in April 2021 with inclusion of Subject Specific Health Action Plans on identified Climate Sensitive Diseases and ‘One Health’.
Malé Declaration
In the context of “Green and Climate Resilient Healthcare Facilities”, India became signatory to the Malé Declaration in 2017 and agreed to promote climate-resilient healthcare facilities to be able to withstand any climatic event
Source: PIB
