Today, in Lao Cai City, the National Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, in co-operation with the World Health Organization and the Viet Nam Health Environmental Management Agency, held a final workshop on a pilot model project to enhance the climate-resilience and environmental sustainability of health care facilities.
Senior officials reviewed the experiences of three district hospitals chosen to pilot the model from 2021 to 2023, with the aim of contributing to the development of national guidelines.
The Government set up this programme to secure safer health care for patients and contribute to Viet Nam’s national and international climate change commitments, including the Prime Minister’s commitment at COP26 to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The four components of the model (known in Vietnamese as the 4Ns) are: 1. water, sanitation and hygiene, and health care waste management; 2. capacity building and awareness raising; 3. energy efficiency and green energy; and 4. improved infrastructure, technology and products.
Hospitals and health stations are vulnerable to disasters and climate change, so it is critical to act quickly with adaptation measures. But these facilities are also contributing to environmental problems. For example, globally, the health sector contributes 4.6% of harmful greenhouse gas emissions. This project also aims to reduce these health sector emissions.
WHO Viet Nam Representative Dr Angela Pratt said, “WHO is pleased to partner with the Government so these three district hospitals can keep serving their communities safely and also serve as models for other health care facilities. In addition, together we can help develop guidance on climate and water resilience for hospitals across the country.
“Secure, safe water supplies are crucial for delivering high quality care and keeping services accessible near where people live. Investing in climate-resilience can also help reduce costs and contribute to more efficient and equitable health systems.”
As well as representatives of the lead Government agencies and WHO, representatives of provincial agencies attended the workshop. The support of a broad range of partners – including schools and communities, was essential to the success of the project.