Climate change and the impact humans are having on the environment have been urgent and pressing concerns for decades. Since the 1960s, there has been a growing awareness of the critical need to address the impacts of global warming, greenhouse gases, and other pollutants.
In recent years, the condition has worsened. As complex climate changes continue to unfold in the 21st century, they have also brought about disastrous consequences for public health and wellness. Medical professionals like nurses are often at the forefront of dealing with the consequences climate change has had on global health.
How Has Climate Change Affected Human Health?
Climate change is a grave threat to human health across the world. It affects our physical environments and natural and man-made systems. This includes deaths and health issues from frequent extreme weather events (like storms, floods, heatwaves, and droughts), disruptions in food systems, a rise in food, water, and vector-borne diseases, and mental health crises.
It also affects the economic and social functioning of healthcare systems. Simply put, climate change has increased health conditions, illnesses, and emergencies while damaging the socio-economic structures that allow people access to healthcare.
How Nursing Plays a Role
The discipline of nursing covers a wide area of study, including human health, illnesses, biology, psychology, and sociology. It is a distinct academic field that provides healthcare and is defined as the art of caring. Nursing is a fundamental part of healthcare systems worldwide, creating a therapeutic and caring environment for patients.
Environmental health and climate significantly impact nursing because they affect entire populations and their patient health outcomes. As stated by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), nurses can play a central role in combating climate change and helping communities adapt to its impacts. This could be in the form of developing methods to reduce unnecessary travel, engaging in sustainable healthcare practices, and creating climate-informed health programmes for new infectious and contagious illnesses.
Nurses are in a unique position to leverage their public image and platforms to become influential advocates and leaders in environmental health. As both educators and global citizens, they are uniquely positioned to promote environmental health and foster partnerships with colleagues to advance behavioural, public, and community health initiatives.
Conclusion
Hindustan Syringes and Medical Devices (HMD) is committed to providing nurses with high-quality products and reducing the medical industry’s impact on the environment. HMD’s single-use safety syringe and auto-disable (AD) syringes aid nurses in providing high-quality care. These syringes reduce the risk of needlestick injuries, preventing the spread of infections. This, in turn, reduces the need for additional medical treatments, mitigating the environmental impact of healthcare resources. This allows nurses to stay safe as they drive meaningful change and build a healthier future for all.
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