Government of Canada supports five projects that helps address health impacts of climate-sensitive diseases
Backgrounder
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), through the Infectious Disease and Climate Change Fund, supports projects that address the impact of climate change on human health in Canada.
Over the next three years, PHAC is providing over $3.3 million to five organizations, led by or in collaboration with First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities, to develop and promote programs and resources that address the growing health impacts of climate-sensitive infectious diseases.
The projects include:
Lead Organization: Aurora College
Project Name: Development and implementation of community-based climate-adaptive strategies for the enhanced co-management of rabies
Location: Beaufort Delta Region, Northwest Territories
Funding: $826,211
Description: Investigate the social, cultural, economic and regulatory barriers that hinder effective rabies co-management, including rabies incident reporting and delivery and uptake of dog rabies vaccination.
Lead Organization: Canadian Pharmacists Association
Project Name: RxClimate Action: Empowered pharmacists supporting communication vulnerable to climate-driven health risks
Location: Canada-wide
Funding: $654,658
Description: Equip pharmacists with the knowledge, tools and resources needed to mitigate the impact of climate change on populations who are disproportionately affected by climate-driven health risks using culturally relevant and community specific approaches to provide care for Indigenous Peoples. This project is in collaboration with Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada.
Lead Organization: Canadian Red Cross Society
Project Name: Improved well-being and resilience of Inuit communities in the context of a rapidly changing climate
Location: Northern Labrador, Newfoundland
Funding: $739,191
Description: Support frontline health care providers and communities to identify and address challenges in managing knowledge gaps of climate change impacts on infectious diseases; and develop and implement community-based, context-appropriate strategies informed by Western science and grounded in Inuit concepts. This project is in collaboration with the Nunatsiavut Government.
Lead Organization: Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay
Project Name: Tapituwaatisiiwinh: A One Health community of practice for Eeyou Istchee
Location: James Bay, Quebec
Funding: $501,810
Description: Increase local capacity to address climate-sensitive infectious diseases by highlighting the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health, an approach rooted in Cree values and knowledge.
Lead Organization: Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak
Project Name: Métis Women’s Stories: Climate change, health and healing
Location: Canada-wide
Funding: $600,000
Description: Strengthen capacity for culturally grounded infectious disease surveillance, adaptation, health literacy and collective healing.