Climate resilience requires health systems that work for women and marginalised communities

Rukiga District in Southwest Uganda is an area highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Under an innovative project funded by the UK Government’s Darwin Initiative, frontline healthcare workers are being trained. These workers provide not only usual maternal care but also information on how to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. Their goal is to protect communities' food and livelihoods. They identify the most vulnerable populations, trace the link between increasingly prolonged droughts and malnutrition, and between environmental degradation and rising domestic violence. Simultaneously, they advocate for climate-smart agriculture, family planning, and maternal care. In climate emergencies, cross-sector programs ensure the mobilization of boats and supplies with local health workers, allowing displaced people, such as teenagers needing contraception or pregnant women, to access services even if infrastructure fails.