Climate change serious global challenge of present era: Sakeena

Jammu, Dec 27: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo virtually inaugurated Training Programme-cum-Workshop on ‘Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health’ under the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) from Civil Secretariat here Saturday.
Addressing the participants, Minister Sakeena highlighted that climate change is one of the most serious global challenges of the present era, with far-reaching consequences for human health, particularly in vulnerable regions. She noted that rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, increasing frequency of extreme climatic events, and deteriorating air and water quality are directly contributing to a surge in climate-sensitive diseases.
The Minister emphasised that climate change is no longer only an environmental issue but a major public health concern, impacting disease patterns, food security, mental health, maternal and child health, and overall well-being. She underlined the need for a proactive, evidence-based and coordinated health response to mitigate and adapt to these emerging challenges.
She added that programmes like NPCCHH play a crucial role in integrating climate considerations into public health planning and service delivery.
During the event, the Minister also released the Health Calendar–2026, which highlights important national and international health days along with key public health information aimed at strengthening health awareness and promoting preventive healthcare.
Pertinently, the training programme aims to build the capacity of healthcare professionals to understand and respond to the health implications of climate change, including emerging diseases, extreme weather events, and their impact on public health planning and service delivery.
The speakers during the programme highlighted the importance of sensitizing healthcare professionals about the health impacts of climate change and the need for a coordinated public health response under the NPCCHH framework.
Dr. Fazl ul Qadir Parray, Principal, SKIMS Medical College; Dr. Jehangir Bakshi, Director Health Services, Kashmir; Dr. Anjum Afshan Qadri, State Epidemiologist, DHSK; other senior officers of health department and medical professionals were also present on the occasion.