My son was sick last weekend. Yuck. We had a pleasant Thanksgiving dinner with friends, but it deteriorated from there. I spent almost the entirety of Saturday cuddling and holding him. There was no time for Christmas decorating, nor holiday shopping. My single goal was to comfort him.
Luckily, his illness was not severe. He has recovered from the congestion and fever. He’s managing to sleep through the night again. His energy and smiles have returned.
Why start there? As I was comforting him, I considered how many in our world are not so lucky. I have every confidence that, if his condition had deteriorated, we would’ve been able to get him appropriate medical care in a timely fashion. We are not wealthy, but we could afford treatment because we have insurance. That access and affordability is not available to the majority of humans on this planet. I am in the minority.
Health care is vital to ensure good quality of life. In many parts of the world, services are limited, difficult to access, and expensive. Climate change is only making things worse.
Climate change affects access, both availability and timeliness. Supercharged weather events destroy vital healthcare infrastructure. Islands hit by hurricanes lose clinics and hospitals. Power can be out for days preventing treatment. Overwhelming monsoons make roads impassable. Requiring those seeking treatment to walk to receive it.
Climate change affects affordability. Healthcare infrastructure needs to be built to withstand these supercharged storms. Increasing the costs to build new facilities. It also disrupts supply chains. Resulting in shortages, price jacking, and treatment rationing.
Climate change affects disease range. As the planet warms, we are seeing old diseases pop up in new places. The mosquitoes who carry malaria have found conducive habitat in new countries. Putting more lives at risk. (Read further in this article by the New York Times.) Many more tropical diseases will gain range as the planet continues to warm. This will increase cases and strain healthcare systems.
Remember, if you are reading this, you are almost certainly in the minority. So what can you do?
Recognize that climate change is a global threat to healthcare equity. Take action in your own home and community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Learn about current work being done to achieve healthcare equity. I recommend starting with reading about the work that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is doing.
Even in the United States, healthcare access and affordability is not equal. Use you voice to work for equity in you local healthcare system.
Creation Care Mom 
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