Health – National Adaptation Plan (HNAP) to Climate Change in Tanzania.

This Health – National Adaptation Plan to climate change is a nationwide cross-sectoral document with the overall objective of giving strategic guidance to the Tanzanian health sector for establishing a climate-resilient health system. Specifically, it aims to (i) reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, by building adaptive capacity and resilience in the health sector; (ii) facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation, in a coherent manner, into relevant new and existing policies, programs and activities within the health sector; (iii) guide health practitioners on the need to develop and operationalize a climate sensitive early warning system for diseases outbreaks; (iv) advocate for the mobilization and allocation of resources for adaptation to climate change in the health sector; and (v) facilitate the integration of health priorities into the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and support the NDC implementation process. The adaptation strategies and options included in the Action Plan regard the following 10 components (1) Leadership and Governance; (2) Health Workforce; (3) Vulnerability, capacity and adaptation assessment; (4) Integrated risk monitoring and early warning; (5) Health and climate research; (6) Climate resilient and sustainable technologies and infrastructure; (7) Management of environmental determinants of health; (8) Strengthen joint multi-sectoral risk management approaches to proactively manage health risks related to water, sanitation, food and nutrition security and air quality; (9) Climate-informed health program; (10) Climate and health financing.
To help eliminate hunger and malnutrition, the Plan underlines that (i) the Ministry of Agriculture provides early warning for food security; and (ii) the Tanzania Food and Drug Authority regulates the quality, safety and efficacy of food. These interventions can help reduce the impact of climate change.
The impact of climate change on health in poor rural areas can be combated by improving sanitation access and the implementation of water safety plans.
To increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, the Plan envisages the following (i) manage climate risks at a strategic level to ensure they are included in health policies, plans and programs; (ii) build the capacity of the health workforce, health system organization and institutions to manage the health risks and consequences of climate variability and change; (iii) strengthen the surveillance and monitoring of climate induced diseases; (iv) strengthen the integration of health and meteorological data in surveillance systems; (v) strengthen early warning systems of extreme events integrating the traditional knowledge of early warning systems; (vi) develop an inter-sectoral research agenda on health and climate change while strengthening capacity of research institutes for conducting these researches; (vii) strengthen joint multi-sectoral risk management approaches to proactively manage health risks related to water, sanitation, food and nutrition security and air quality; (viii) increase the basic hygiene and sanitation coverage through public awareness, education, advocacy and law enforcement; (ix) strengthen climatic data sharing; (x) routinely use risk assessments for current and projected future exposure to extreme weather events to inform health sector strategic development plans and programs; (xi) implement capacity development programs to identify and support the roles of local communities to identify risks, prevent exposure to hazards and take action to save lives in extreme weather events.
As for Governance, there is a need for a well-functioning Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework for the implementation of the HNAP. M&E of the HNAP is an iterative process with the following aims (i) to track the progress of implementation of the HNAP action plan on the level of input and output; (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of the adaptation actions to the strategic objectives and the overall objectives of the HNAP, including the allocated resources; (iii) to provide information to the beneficiaries, implementing agencies and financiers on the progress of HNAP actions.