With a land mass of only about 702 sq km but spread in more than 2,600,000 sq km area of water, FSM consists of four states - Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. The total number of islands is more than 600. Photo: Whereig.com
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has developed a climate change and health programme aimed at preventing the spread of climate-sensitive diseases.
This is backed by a US$17.9 million grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and delivered in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC).
The SPC said illnesses from dengue fever to diarrhoea, once considered seasonal, are now becoming year-round threats.
SPC's Public Health Division director Dr Berlin Kafoa said climate change needed to be taken seriously, especially its impact on health.
"This project reflects SPC's commitment to a 'one health' approach, recognising that climate change is not just an environmental threat, it is a public health emergency; and by integrating climate finance into health systems to better protect communities from disease, water insecurity, and food-related illnesses."
SPC said in a statement the initiative will help climate-proof public health systems and improve community resilience across all four FSM states.
"Over the next five years, more than 78,000 people will benefit directly from improved disease surveillance and early warning systems, better access to health information, and resilient water and sanitation infrastructure."
The GCF is the world's largest climate fund, mandated to support developing countries raise and realize their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) ambitions towards low-emission, climate-resilient pathways.
Its chief investment officer Henry Gonzalez said the approval of this project demonstrated how the fund supports country ownership of climate action on health in the Pacific small island developing state.
"It focuses on climate-induced disease prevention and improved early warning interventions."
Coral Pasisi, director of SPC's climate change and sustainability division, said the programme "addresses one of the Pacific's most pressing but underfunded challenges, namely the intersection between health and climate".
"We are glad to be supporting FSM to not only deliver infrastructure and services but also strengthen institutions and systems that will support long-term resilience to climate-sensitive diseases."
The programme will also support the development of a Health National Adaptation Plan to guide long-term responses to climate risks.
