Session 6: Extreme Weather Events and Disasters and Waterborne Diseases
Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education 
Featuring:
– Archana Shrestha, PhD, Deputy Director General – Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal
– Thimna Lateef, Team Lead and Technical Officer for Climate Change, WASH, and Environmental Health, WHO Timor-Leste
– Upasona Ghosh, PhD, MPhil, Associate Professor at Indian Institute of Public Health, Bhubaneswar, Technical Expert, PHFI Centre for Environmental Health
– Dr. Ahammadul Kabir, Program Officer Climate, WHO Bangladesh.
– Moderated by Priya Dutta, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Ashoka University, Visiting Scholar, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Description: This session explores the growing risks of extreme weather events—such as cyclones, typhoons, glacier melting, inland and coastal flooding—alongside the increasing threats of water illnesses due to climate change. Participants will examine how climate change disrupts the hydrosphere, altering water availability, quality, and supply, and increasing the prevalence of waterborne pathogens.
We will discuss short- and long-term health threats faced by vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, marginalized communities, and those with pre-existing conditions. The session will highlight the roles of disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, public health communication, and regional cooperation in mitigating these impacts. Case studies and discussions will provide practical strategies for health professionals to respond effectively and advocate for adaptation measures that reduce health risks.
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