Sespa promotes State Forum on Climate Change to discuss impacts on public health

On this Monday and Tuesday, October 20 and 21, managers, technicians, and health professionals from various municipalities in Pará participate in the State Forum on Climate Change and the Impact on the Health-Disease Process: Intersectoral Dialogues for Strengthening Health Services. Promoted by the State Department of Public Health (Sespa), at the Central Level, the event brings together representatives from state and municipal agencies, the Ministry of Health, and social control, with the aim of discussing the effects of climate change on the health of the population and proposing integrated strategies to face them.

“In a few days, Belém will host COP30, and this is a very important forum for us to discuss the topic with quality. It is an opportune moment for us to come out with clear guidelines, listening to all the needs and achieving our goals,” said the Deputy Secretary of Health Policy Management, Heloísa Guimarães, at the opening of the event.

During the discussions on the first day, the direct impacts of climate change in the Amazon were emphasized, especially the periods of drought and fires, which have aggravated respiratory diseases, harmed the environment, and hindered access to health in more isolated regions. Professionals working on the front lines reported challenges in providing care to populations affected by floods and droughts and highlighted the importance of social awareness about the effects of human actions on the climate.

“Talking about climate is talking about health, human rights, social and environmental justice, but mainly it is talking about people. Whenever we think about the climate crisis, we need to consider the resilience of health services and how workers and managers can provide these services,” said Danielle Rocha, president of the State Health Council.

The debates also highlighted the integration between environmental and health monitoring systems, including information on air quality, water quality, and meteorological data, to support decisions and strengthen the planning of preventive actions. The State Department of Environment and Sustainability (Semas) presented Law No. 4,739, which establishes the Program for Combating and Preventing Forest Fires, highlighting the significant reduction of fire hotspots compared to the previous year — a result of joint action between state and municipal agencies.

The meeting highlights the importance of coordination between different areas of public management, such as the Health Surveillance and Health Work and Education Management departments, showing how cooperation between strategic sectors generates significant advances in public health and environmental policies. The initiative reinforces the state's commitment to act collectively in the face of climate and health challenges.

“Once again, we are proving that integration between strategic areas makes a big difference in our work and in advancing essential themes for the state, especially in an atypical year, with environmental debates at the center of discussions and global attention focused on our region,” said the state coordinator of Health Education at Sespa, Taise Neves Carvalho.

The forum is an action provided for in the State Plan for Permanent Health Education (2024–2027) and takes place at a strategic moment, on the eve of COP30. The local discussions serve as preparation for the international debate on climate, reinforcing Pará's role as a protagonist in the environmental and public health agenda. The expectation is that the results will directly contribute to the Belém Letter, a document that should consolidate the state's proposals at COP30.

Text: Ascom/Sespa