Why in news?
- India is now all set to open a climate change and health hub in the national capital in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
- Earlier, India had bagged the first WHO Centre for Global Traditional Medicine.
- WHO Centre for Global Traditional Medicine was set up in Jamnagar, Gujrat.
- The new hub for climate change and health will facilitate knowledge sharing, promote partnerships and innovations, and also help countries beyond the G-20, especially developing countries.
What’s in today’s article?
- Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- WHO Centre for Global Traditional Medicine
- News Summary
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- ADB (founded in 1966) is an international development finance institution.
- Its mission is to help its developing member countries reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of their people.
- Headquartered in Manila, ADB is owned and financed by its 68 members, of which 49 are from the region and 19 are from other parts of the globe.
- The two largest shareholders of the Asian Development Bank are the United States and Japan.
- ADB is an official United Nations Observer.
- Voting rights in ADB are distributed in proportion with members’ capital subscriptions.
WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM)
- About
- GCTM is a knowledge centre for traditional medicine which is being termed as the first and only global outpost centre for traditional medicine across the world. The Centre is located at Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
- As lead investor in the WHO GCTM, India has committed an estimated US$ 250 million to support the Centre’s establishment, infrastructure and operations.
- 5 Goals of GCTM
- It aims to create a database of traditional knowledge system using technology.
- it will create international standards for testing and certification of traditional medicines so that confidence in these medicines improves.
- GCTM should evolve as a platform where global experts of traditional medicines come together and share experiences.
- GCTM should mobilize funding for research in the field of traditional medicines.
- GCTM should develop protocols for holistic treatment of specific diseases so that patients could benefit from both traditional and modern medicine.
News Summary: India, ADB to set up climate change and health hub in Delhi
- India is now all set to open a climate change and health hub in New Delhi.
- This centre will be opened in partnership with the ADB.
Significance
- Climate change affects all and this centre will give an opportunity to have different partners discussing this important issue and learning from each other.
- In its recently released G-20 outcome document, India noted that climate change will continue to drive health emergencies, including the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases.
- It will also increase the severity and frequency of natural disasters, thereby threatening health systems’ ability to deliver essential services.
- Against this backdrop, there is need to enhance the resilience of health systems against the impact of climate change.
- The outcome document committed to:
- prioritize climate-resilient health systems development,
- build sustainable and low-carbon/low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission health systems and healthcare supply chains that deliver high-quality healthcare,
- mobilize resources for resilient, low-carbon sustainable health systems, and
- facilitate collaboration, including initiatives such as the WHO-led Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH).
- The recently concluded G-20 Health Ministers’ meet also expressed the concern about the rising cases of zoonotic spill overs, and consequently emerging and re-emerging diseases.
- In this context, there is need to identify new drivers and address the existing drivers using a science and risk-based approach, and to strengthen existing infectious disease surveillance systems.
- The new Climate Change and Health Hub in New Delhi will help countries all over the world to address the above-mentioned issues.
