Manipur Health Minister Sapam Ranjan on Monday stated that the problem of water scarcity in the state is related to climate change and opined for study on climate change affecting health in the state.
Addressing the state level workshop on strengthening Urban Primary Health Care at Sangai Hall of Hotel Imphal, the minister that climate change and environment degradation has caused a critical situation to the people and that the problem of water scarcity is related to climate change. Climate change has also affected human health, including mental health, he added.
Relating water shortage in the state to deforestation that causes climate change or variation, the minister appealed to the people to stop deforestation particularly in the hill areas.
“Water from Loktak lake is being lifted up to Malom, Imphal West, through River Lift Irrigation for supplying to the public. This is an issue caused by environmental degradation”, said the minister.
Stating that lifestyle diseases are increasing, the minister said that strengthening of urban health care only will not strengthen the health care system but that rural health care needs to be strengthened as well. Urban health care service is a turning point which makes a new challenge to the public health care system, he added.
Organisng workshops on such topics such as climate change and human health will help to enlighten the medical professionals and general public to bring ecological balance, minister informed.
Additional chief secretary, V Vumlunmang, said that health insurance schemes have been introduced in the state for improving health facilities of the public. The health staff need to interact with the urban people and address their issues in time. Health care in urban areas is really a challenge, he added.
The workshop, organised by Directorate of Health Services and State Health Society, was attended by director of National Health Mission, Manipur, Somorjit Ningombam and Swathi Mahajan of PATH and officials from Health Department and State Health Society, doctors and others were also present during the inaugural function.
Projects on strengthening Urban Health Care in Manipur, Chatbot on Mental Health and State Action Plan for Climate Change and Health were also launched.
