Health Care Without Harm-Asia calls on all candidates in the upcoming Philippine national elections to prioritize health and environmental issues in their electoral platforms.

In commemoration of Earth Day, the group is emphasizing the urgent need for candidates, and those who will eventually hold office, to confront several critical issues linked to health, from the effects of climate change to the country’s growing waste management problem.

Addressing the health impacts of climate change

“Social inequality continues to be one of the biggest issues in many Asian countries such as the Philippines, and this will only be aggravated as the effects of climate change worsen, damaging people’s livelihoods and more importantly, their health,” explained Ramon San Pascual, HCWH-Asia Director. “As demonstrated by the recent tragedy in Kidapawan, the poor, such as our farmers, will always be the ones most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.”

The British health journal The Lancet has referred to climate change as “the biggest global health threat of the 21st century.” The drought in Mindanao is a clear manifestation of how climate change is negatively affecting people’s health, from the lack of food supply that results to malnutrition to the civil conflicts that lead to people’s displacement causing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

“If mitigation actions will not be done properly and urgently, climate change will continue to usher in not only social unrest, but the exacerbation of more diseases. The government and all sectors must address climate change while addressing social and health inequity at its core.”

HCWH-Asia, through its Healthy Energy Initiative campaign, has been actively working with both the health and energy sectors in promoting the transition from coal to renewable energy choices, by highlighting the health impact of energy choices. It joins many health and environmental groups in calling on all candidates to show their support for renewable energy by stopping the establishment of more coal-fired power plants in the country.

“We call on the entire health sector — hospitals, medical associations, and health professionals — let us come together in amplifying environment and health-related issues in this coming elections. Our role should extend beyond just healing the sick but in ensuring that we live in a healthy planet that does not do harm on people’s health.”