Women and children are 14 times more likely to die from climate disasters as men, and the greater the gender and economic inequality, the greater the disparity between men and women’s chances of survival.
This was revealed recently by ActionAid at their climate journalist café in collaboration with Media Science Health and Africulture (MESHA).
Climate Justice Policy Advisor at ActionAid International, Paula Castro highlighted that the statistics show that, seven out of 10 people experiencing hunger are women and girls while 80 percent of people displaced by climate disasters are women.
She further indicated that, seven out of 10 people experiencing hunger are women and girls and 80 percent of people displaced by climate disasters are women.
This is not news to Botswana as women and girls in Botswana are also challenged by climate change disasters. Climate change activist, Boitumelo Marumo agreed that climate change has a major impact on women and children in Botswana.
“Shifting climatic patterns and increased environmental stressors have significantly heightened vulnerability to health risks and malnutrition among women and children in Botswana,” MArumo said.
“The increasing prevalence of food insecurity exacerbates these issues, as households grapple with decreased agricultural output due to erratic weather conditions,” she said.
Marumo added that migration often a response to economic pressures, leads to families being divided, which can disrupt traditional support systems and further diminish food security.
She clarified that the interconnectedness of migration, nutrition, and health becomes evident as families resort to less nutritious food options due to economic constraints, making them more susceptible to malnutrition.
“Moreover, the rise in health risks, including those related to infectious diseases, disproportionately impacts women and children, who often bear the brunt of caregiving responsibilities amidst the strain of diminished resources,” she said.
She said that consequently addressing climate-induced vulnerabilities is essential not only for improving health outcomes but also for ensuring food security and overall well-being within these communities.
Marumo noted that as climate change exacerbates environmental stressors in Botswana, children, particularly those from vulnerable populations, face acute health challenges.
The escalating frequency of droughts and floods directly threatens food security, leading to malnutrition, which has long-term developmental consequences.
Recent studies indicate that urban poverty, as evidenced in Gaborone where four out of five households reported severe food insecurity, highlights the precariousness of food access amid these climate shifts, according to Marumo.
“Additionally, the compromised access to clean water and sanitation facilities due to climate-induced weather extremes cultivates an environment ripe for waterborne diseases, including cholera, disproportionately affecting children’s health.
“With the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa, the burden on healthcare systems intensifies as children with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to opportunistic infections,” she said.
She added that the intersection of climate change and public health calls for an urgent need for targeted interventions to safeguard the well-being of Botswana’s children in an increasingly unpredictable environment.
Marumo said that research shows that in assessing the overarching impact of climate change on women and children in Botswana, “it is clear that the repercussions extend beyond environmental degradation to encompass socioeconomic instability and health crises.
“As rural communities increasingly contend with climate variability, access to crucial resources, such as water and food, becomes severely compromised, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.
“This aligns with the findings that developing countries, including those in Africa, will experience intensified exposure to climate-related challenges, threatening livelihood and food security.” Marumo said HIV/AIDS pandemic remains substantially unaddressed, particularly in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, where medical resources are scarce for those affected and as a result, the intersection of climate change with health and economic disparities calls for the urgent need for tailored policy interventions that prioritise the unique vulnerabilities of women and children.
This was revealed recently by ActionAid at their climate journalist café in collaboration with Media Science Health and Africulture (MESHA).
Climate Justice Policy Advisor at ActionAid International, Paula Castro highlighted that the statistics show that, seven out of 10 people experiencing hunger are women and girls while 80 percent of people displaced by climate disasters are women.
She further indicated that, seven out of 10 people experiencing hunger are women and girls and 80 percent of people displaced by climate disasters are women.
This is not news to Botswana as women and girls in Botswana are also challenged by climate change disasters. Climate change activist, Boitumelo Marumo agreed that climate change has a major impact on women and children in Botswana.
“Shifting climatic patterns and increased environmental stressors have significantly heightened vulnerability to health risks and malnutrition among women and children in Botswana,” MArumo said.
“The increasing prevalence of food insecurity exacerbates these issues, as households grapple with decreased agricultural output due to erratic weather conditions,” she said.
Marumo added that migration often a response to economic pressures, leads to families being divided, which can disrupt traditional support systems and further diminish food security.
She clarified that the interconnectedness of migration, nutrition, and health becomes evident as families resort to less nutritious food options due to economic constraints, making them more susceptible to malnutrition.
“Moreover, the rise in health risks, including those related to infectious diseases, disproportionately impacts women and children, who often bear the brunt of caregiving responsibilities amidst the strain of diminished resources,” she said.
She said that consequently addressing climate-induced vulnerabilities is essential not only for improving health outcomes but also for ensuring food security and overall well-being within these communities.
Marumo noted that as climate change exacerbates environmental stressors in Botswana, children, particularly those from vulnerable populations, face acute health challenges.
The escalating frequency of droughts and floods directly threatens food security, leading to malnutrition, which has long-term developmental consequences.
Recent studies indicate that urban poverty, as evidenced in Gaborone where four out of five households reported severe food insecurity, highlights the precariousness of food access amid these climate shifts, according to Marumo.
“Additionally, the compromised access to clean water and sanitation facilities due to climate-induced weather extremes cultivates an environment ripe for waterborne diseases, including cholera, disproportionately affecting children’s health.
“With the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa, the burden on healthcare systems intensifies as children with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to opportunistic infections,” she said.
She added that the intersection of climate change and public health calls for an urgent need for targeted interventions to safeguard the well-being of Botswana’s children in an increasingly unpredictable environment.
Marumo said that research shows that in assessing the overarching impact of climate change on women and children in Botswana, “it is clear that the repercussions extend beyond environmental degradation to encompass socioeconomic instability and health crises.
“As rural communities increasingly contend with climate variability, access to crucial resources, such as water and food, becomes severely compromised, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.
“This aligns with the findings that developing countries, including those in Africa, will experience intensified exposure to climate-related challenges, threatening livelihood and food security.” Marumo said HIV/AIDS pandemic remains substantially unaddressed, particularly in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, where medical resources are scarce for those affected and as a result, the intersection of climate change with health and economic disparities calls for the urgent need for tailored policy interventions that prioritise the unique vulnerabilities of women and children.
