Climate change is already affecting the world, including Kenya. Its effects are here and now, not just in the future.
Young people, in general, are especially experiencing severe health effects with frequent rising temperatures, unreliable rain, and extreme weather patterns.
The consequences of these shifts in the environment are placing a greater burden on health care services and overall wellness among young people.
Heat-Related Illnesses
Increased temperature is among the most immediate effects of climate change.
In Kenya, intense heat is leading to an increase in heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Young adults, especially those that engage in physical activities such as sport and labour work, are the most susceptible to heat stress and dehydration.
Unless there are adequate provisions to shield them from prolonged exposure to intense heat, these cases lead to life-threatening health complications like organ damages and, in extreme cases, fatalities.
Food Insecurity and Malnutrition
Climate change is also affecting agriculture through irregular rainfall patterns and drought.
Unpredictable weather patterns caused by climate change are making it difficult for families to grow staple foods, despite agriculture being a primary source of income and sustenance.
Therefore, food insecurity is growing, leading to malnutrition in children and youths. Malnutrition could have permanent effects on body and mind growth, affecting school enrollment and productivity in later years.
Increased Risk of Disease
Increased temperatures are offering perfect breeding grounds for disease-carrying vectors such as mosquitoes.
Malaria and dengue fever, which are already a public health concern in Kenya, are spreading faster with the expansion of regions where mosquitoes breed.
Young people, particularly rural and urban poor who have limited access to healthcare, are at increased risk of infection.
Increased temperature and humidity also facilitate the spread of respiratory and waterborne diseases, which further pose a risk to their health.
Displacement and Healthcare Disruptions.
Where there are coastlines, rising sea levels and changing weather patterns are leading to flood and erosion, threatening inundation as well as loss of homes and livelihoods for communities.
Such displacement not only moves families to unfamiliar and at times crowded new homes but also disrupts access to essential healthcare.
For youth with ongoing conditions or those in need of vaccination and maternity care, such disruption can lead to dramatic, long-lasting consequences.
What actions can be taken?
Mitigating the impact of climate change on the health of young people requires a collaborative effort from governments, communities, and global partners.
Investing in climate-resilient health systems, promoting sustainable agriculture, and implementing early warning systems for extreme weather events are key steps to minimizing these risks.
Increasing awareness and mobilizing young people to participate actively in climate action will also lead to a healthier and more sustainable world for all.
Through the recognition and elimination of these problems, Kenya can safeguard the health and well-being of its young people, enabling them to thrive despite the climate change.
