Climate Changes to Affect The Physical and Mental Health of People in Bangladesh: The World Bank
A new report from the World Bank claims that climate change caused by climate change in Bangladesh is leading to an increase in the spread of infectious diseases and affecting human mental health.
The report added that it particularly affects the mental health of people living in big cities like Dhaka and Chittagong. The report stated that in the last 44 years, the temperature in Bangladesh has risen by 0.5 ° C, adding that the temperature in Bangladesh is expected to rise by 1.4 ° C in 2050. Summer is not only getting hotter and hotter, winter is getting warmer, and the monsoon period extends from February to October.
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With further predictions about climate change, more physical and mental problems may arise.
The most vulnerable are children and the elderly.
Irregular weather conditions played a central role in the dengue outbreak in Dhaka in 2019, where 77% of the country's total dengue-related deaths occurred.
In 2019, Dhaka recorded more than three times the average rainfall in February, followed by high temperature and high humidity from March to July.
Compared with the monsoon, the probability of contracting infectious diseases in the dry season is about 20% lower. The report added that respiratory diseases increase with increasing temperature and humidity.
As the temperature rises, more and more people may suffer from respiratory diseases.
Weather patterns can also affect mental health. There are more and more people suffering from depression in winter, and the degree of anxiety increases with the increase of temperature and humidity. In addition, the report added that women have a higher risk of depression than men, and men are more likely to suffer from anxiety.
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The report further recommends that by strengthening the health system, Bangladesh can deal with outbreaks of infectious diseases and other climate-sensitive diseases.
“As more and more evidence shows that climate change has a significant impact on physical and mental health, Bangladesh needs to make adjustments based on its success to ensure a stronger health care system and avoid the outbreak of new climate-sensitive diseases. "Mercy Tembon said. The country directors of Bangladesh and Bhutan during the virtual presentation of the report.
"Looking forward, by ensuring stronger data collection, Bangladesh can better track the development of climate-sensitive diseases," said Iffat Mahmud, senior operating officer of the World Bank and co-author of the report.