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Abstract

Human health is seriously affected by the impacts of climate change. WHO (World Health Organization) and IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) have published several reports describing negative impacts of climate change on human health; this has resulted in the epidemiology of many diseases and conditions. Climate change has both direct (psychological effects arising from cold, heat and extreme weather) and indirect (change in behavior, forced migration etc.) impacts on human health. In 2015, WHO confirmed that floods cause contamination of freshwater sources, increases the risk of water borne diseases, provides breeding places for vectors of infectious diseases. In Morocco, the intensity and recurrence are enhanced due to climate change is a worrying phenomenon in recent years as the loss of life and property has increased. The rise in temperature additionally adds to this problem as it exacerbates diseases and number of deaths. The impact on health varies from region to region within a country partly due to geographic conditions. The nature and scale of impact will depend on the buffer capacity of the health systems (adaption and initial access of population to health services). Extreme weather conditions can result in requirement of health services which may surpass the capacity of existing health facilities rendering them vulnerable in future. The findings make a case for the Moroccan national health strategists to recognize the importance of overcoming major health risks presented to the population and citizens of Morocco. This can be achieved by identifying climate risks for health as a major challenge to be overcome in order to provide maximum protection of human health of citizens against these threats. Recent Publications 1. El Morabet R (2018) Effects of outdoor air pollution on human health. Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. Elsevier DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.11012–7. 2. El Morabet R, Aneflouss M and Mouak S (2018) Air pollution effects on health in Kenitra, Northern Morocco. Recent Advances in Environmental Science from the Euro-Mediterranean and Surrounding Regions. Springer DOI: 10.1007/978- 3-319-70548-4–570. 3. Patz J A, Campbell-Lendrum D, Holloway T and Foley J A (2005) Impact of regional climate change on human health. Nature 438(7066):310.

Biography

Rachida El Morabet holds a PhD in Biology from the Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco (2004), an Inter-University Diploma in Biotechnology, Paris, France (2001) and a University Pedagogy Certificate (teaching practices; learning theories; models assessment practices knowledge; educational resources and distance learning) (2014). She is an Associate Professor with the Department of Geography at FLSH-Mohammedia, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Morocco; Member of the Laboratory: Dynamics of Space and the Society; Research Team: the Dynamics of Natural Environments and their Impacts on Society and Territories; and Member of Center CERES [Center of Environmental, Human Security and Governance Research]. Her research interests include environmental issues in the era of global change, socio-ecological system (vulnerability and adaptation), and dynamics of natural systems. She received two gold medals with Honors of International Exhibition of Invention and Innovation, Casablanca, Morocco.

E-mail: rachidaelmorabet@yahoo.fr