Climate Change and Health Strategic Action Plan 2016-2020: Building climate-resilient health system in Fiji.

The Climate Change and Health Strategic Action Plan is a national policy with a cross-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the policy is 5 years between 2016 and 2020. The main purpose of this Action Plan is to build the resilience of the health sector to climate change by empowering and assisting the people through an adaptive and sustainable health system in Fiji.
This Action Plan lays down strategies for adapting to climate change for the health system in order to prevent and overcome both existing and future risks. The health system will be improved through strategic consideration and management of the climate sensitive risks, stress and shocks. To this end, the responsible and accountable authority and mechanism will be designated for climate change and health within the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. Climate variability and change implications will be integrated into health policies and programs and health protection will be included in the decision-making. The Climate Change and Health Steering Committee will be established to foster cross-sectoral collaboration. The health care infrastructure and capacity of health personnel will be improved to cope with climate sensitive diseases, including food and fish poisoning arising from climate change. In addition, short and long term additional action plan for improved health infrastructure, staffing and capacity will be developed to cope with vector-borne and water- and food-borne diseases in the context of climate change. The awareness of the public and all stakeholders will be raised on climate change and its effect on and response to health. Health information systems will be developed for informed decisions, and the identification of the most vulnerable populations and main health risks posed by climate change, while taking into account the local climatic and health circumstances. The capacity of the health system and health care infrastructure will be assessed at all levels to identify the capability to cope with climate change health risks and mapping for appropriate intervention. Integrated risk monitoring and early warning systems will be developed to anticipate and alert the public and health professionals for faster detection of climate-sensitive diseases and risks and early implementation of interventions. Research will be conducted to determine the sensitivity of health determinants including water, sanitation and hygiene to climate change. Climate resilient and sustainable technologies and infrastructure will be provided to reduce vulnerability to climate risks within and outside the health sector. The management of environmental determinants of health will be implemented to facilitate scaling up of multi-sectoral public health prevention programs through health related policies in other sectors such as environment, municipalities, occupational health, transport, water supply and housing. Climate-informed health programs will be implemented to strengthen reporting and coordination between data sources for climate sensitive risks and diseases for effective and timely intervention. Emergency preparedness and management will be strengthened to ensure health systems and communities strengthen holistic management of overall public health risks and increase preparedness capacity. Climate and health financing will be developed to mobilize resources in order to address health risks due to climate change by combining climate change and health considerations in investments in key health determining sectors.