HOPE
Ανταπόκριση στους καύσωνες στο οικοσύστημα των ηλικιωμένων
Macro
Main result
Action Plan
Title
Heat-Health Action Plan of North Macedonia
Date 2012
Objectives
The HHAP aims to reduce current and future morbidity and mortality related to
extreme temperatures and heatwaves. In particular the plan, and the related
warning system, focuses on the most vulnerable groups of the population: elderly, infants and children up to five years old, chronically ill persons, people who are overweight, outdoor workers and people whose socioeconomic status makes them more vulnerable to climate change effects (e.g. the homeless). The health care system in the country has an important role in developing and implementing adaptation, prevention and response measures to address the health risks related to climate change, by:
• Strengthening existing public health capacities for early detection and
adequate response;
• Anticipating the consequences of emerging diseases potentially related to
climate change;
• Raising awareness among the population about the possible links between
climate change and health.
Location /geographical coverage
The Republic of North Macedonia
Organisation responsible for good practice
Government of Macedonia – ministry of Health
Short summary
The Heat Health Action Plan (HHAP) was finalized in 2011 and adopted by the
Government of Macedonia in 2012. As part of the plan implementation, a heat
health warning system was put in place. The system is still active and works in the
period 01 May – 30 September. Its operation involves the following bodies:
• a cross-government body (consisting of the Ministry of Health, the Institute
of Public Health, the Institute of Occupational Medicine and other national relevant stakeholders) coordinating heatwave alert which is responsible for the activation of the related green (vigilance), yellow (alert/preparedness), orange (heatwave) and red (emergency) phases. It also coordinates with local stakeholders on measures to be implemented.
• a meteorological agency, which informs the Ministry of Health about an
evidence of alert levels and operationally communicates the 24–48-hour heatwave warning, and
• a public health agency, which evaluates the effects of heatwaves in terms
of defined indicators as stated in the national heatwave plan (SCORCH, 2020).
The warning system is part of the broader approach designed by the HHAP and it includes:
• Recommendations for reducing exposure to heat inside health and social
institutions (and special protection plans for the most vulnerable groups of the
population);
• A communication strategy informing citizens and people involved in the
health and social sectors about protection measures to be taken during heatwaves.
In particular the strategy refers to the above-mentioned recommendations;
• Long term planning for preparedness of the health and social care systems,
including: planning and training of personnel, continuous improvement of health
protection and creation of new green areas;
• Monitoring and evaluation of the plan: a recent survey (2020) was
developed together with the Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium).
• An application for Android mobile phones in order to provide heat and
health warnings in a timely manner and related recommendations to the users.
Impact
The Heat-Health Action Plan was adopted by the Government in 2011, following
the successful piloting of specific heat-protection actions in summer 2010. As part of the plan implementation, a heat health warning system was put in place and is still operational. There are no plans to revise the HHAP at this time. The heat health warning system runs every year from 1 May to 30 September. It is expected to continue operating and being updated.
Innovation
Lessons learned
• Maximizing synergies with existing instruments and institutions;
• Preparing health and social care sector workforce to respond to health-related consequences of climate change and strengthening of health services to address climate-related events in a timely manner;
• Promoting consideration of the health issues and related responses within
other sectors;
• Building capacity in the health and social care sector workforce. In this
context, the Safety and Health at Work Act (Government Gazette of the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia No. 92/07) was enforced to provide the
implementation of measures in the national heatwave plan to protect the health
of workers during a heatwave
Sustainability
• information on climate change impacts on health needs to be translated
from the scientific research domain into language and time scales relevant for
policy makers
• availability of national data on climate changes and related impacts is very
important, as well as understanding major gaps in human capacity;
• all relevant stakeholders need to be involved and that their information
needs may vary.
Replicability and/or up-scaling
Heat-Health Action Plan is easy to up-scale and replicate as there is a model for it created by EuroHEAT project.
Contact details
Mihail Kochubovski
Head of Sector of Environmental Health Institute of Public Health of the Republic
of North Macedonia
Str. 50 Divizija No.6 1000 Skopje
Republic of North Macedonia
E-mail: kocubov58@yahoo.com
Related Web site(s)
Related resources that have been developed