Day: October 6, 2022

Did you know that Africa has the highest suicide rate in the world? To reverse that worrying statistic, the UN health agency WHO on Thursday launched a social media campaign to raise awareness around mental health illness, which is believed to account for up to 11 per cent of the risk factors that are associated with suicide.

“Every death by suicide is a tragedy,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, who maintained the suicide prevention was “rarely a priority” in national health programmes.
Ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, she called for “significant investment…to tackle Africa’s growing burden of chronic diseases and non-infectious conditions – such as mental disorders – that can contribute to suicide”.

Mental health problems double
According to WHO, mental health problems affect 116 million people in the African region, up from 53 million in 1990.

The continent also has six of the top 10 countries for suicide in the world, while the agency also noted that for each suicide in Africa, there are an estimated 20 suicide attempts.

Budget constraints
Despite the urgency of the problem, African governments allocate less than 50 US cents per person to treat mental health problems, says WHO. This is five times more than in 2017, but it is still well below the recommended $2 per person for low-income countries.

Additionally, mental health care is generally not included in national health insurance schemes, WHO said, noting that in Africa, there is only one psychiatrist for every 500,000 inhabitants.

This is 100 times below the WHO recommendation. Additionally, mental health workers mostly work in urban areas, often leaving rural communities without any support.

“Mental health is integral to wholesome health and well-being yet far too many people in our region who need help for mental health conditions do not receive it. It’s time to for radical change,” Dr Moeti said. “Ongoing efforts by countries should be reinforced and broadened to make mental healthcare a public health priority in the African region.”

Help at hand
The WHO already supports countries in their efforts to step up mental health services in Africa.

This includes assistance for primary health care workers in Zimbabwe, who receive training to boost quality and access to mental health services.

In Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe, a survey of investment needs for mental health services has been completed and advocacy is now underway to secure the resources needed.

The WHO also supports Cabo Verde and Cote d’Ivoire with national suicide situation analysis, as a first step towards devising effective response measures.

In August 2022, African health ministers agreed on a new strategy to reinforce mental health care at a WHO regional conference. The 2030 targets they decided upon called for all countries on the continent to have a policy or legislation on mental health; for 60 per cent of countries to implement the policy, for 95 per cent of countries to monitor and report on key mental health indicators, and 80 per cent of countries to budget for mental health services.

Source: United Nations

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the discussions in advance of the Twenty-seventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, today:
Let me start by thanking the Democratic Republic of Congo, under the leadership of President [Félix-Antoine] Tshisekedi, for hosting this pre-COP jointly with the COP27 presidency, uniting the world for climate action.
We recognize the country’s critical role in working to preserve the world’s second-largest humid tropical forest. And I applaud the leadership of the Democratic Republic of Congo the solutions provided for climate and humanity. We understand that greater international support is needed for supporting these efforts and the overall green transition to keep the promise of the Paris Agreement alive.
In just over a month, the world’s attention will turn to Sharm El-Sheikh. Governments, civil society, business leaders, local authorities, and scientists will come together under the inclusive tent provided by the United Nations. Together, they must credibly show the world that addressing climate change remains a top global priority.
How can we make sure this happens? It’s time to regain trust and work together constructively to build on Glasgow and deliver a package of concrete outcomes at COP27. Supporting transformative adaptation action in developing countries must be a global priority. In particular, we need progress on adaptation finance.
In Glasgow, developed countries promised to double adaptation support to $40 billion a year by 2025. We need a clear road map on how this will be delivered, starting this year. Forty billion is only a fraction of the $300 billion that will be needed annually by developing countries for adaptation by 2030. As the Secretary-General has said: this is a moral responsibility and an economic imperative. This is why he continued to call for 50 per cent of all climate finance to be allocated to adaptation. Three hundred fifty-six million dollars was pledged for the Adaptation Fund at COP26 in Glasgow. Just weeks from COP27, $194 million remains outstanding.
We must advance work on the global goal on adaptation at COP27. That means supporting developing countries to turn their adaptation priorities into investment plans and pipelines of investable projects. We also need progress on mitigation. To limit temperature rise to 1.5°Celsius, global emissions need to decline by at least 45 per cent before the end of this decade.
Last year’s Nationally Determined Contributions’ synthesis report showed that the current Nationally Determined Contributions would result in a 14 per cent increase in emissions. That means the 1.5-degree goal — and even 2 degrees — will be way out of reach. And that means climate catastrophe, especially for those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, whose lives and livelihoods are already at risk. What we saw in Pakistan and Florida recently are stark reminders of the kind of future that awaits many other parts of the world and millions of people.
Group of Twenty (G20) nations account for 80 per cent of global emissions. Their leadership is critical. Nationally Determined Contributions must continue to be enhanced by all. We also need clear plans, transparency and resources for phasing out coal and accelerating the deployment of renewables. This must also include access to the needed supply chains, technologies and raw materials for a renewables revolution in developing countries. Parties must agree on a robust work programme on mitigation that accelerates pre-2030 emission reduction efforts globally.
We continue to need urgent progress with respect to finance. Finance commitments to the developing world must be delivered in full. This is an issue of integrity, trust and global partnership. Developed nations must demonstrate clearly where they are this year on the delivery of the $100 billion promised more than a decade ago.
And we need clarity on how shareholders will ensure that the multilateral development banks become fit for purpose in addressing the climate emergency response to global adaptation. These institutions need to take more risk across their operations, to significantly increase the mobilization of private finance for the deployment of renewables. They must also substantially increase their support for adaptation and resilience-building in developing countries. I commend the efforts of the International Monetary Fund for creating the new resilience facility and look forward to its early operationalization.
Finally, we need progress on loss and damage. As the Secretary-General said to the General Assembly, this is a fundamental question of climate justice, international solidarity and trust. The impacts of the climate crisis are evident everywhere. Those who have contributed the least to the crisis are being hit the hardest. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, if you are living in one of the hotspots for the climate crisis in the global South you are 15 times more likely to die from a climate disaster. Even with the best adaptation action, losses and damage are inevitable.
The finance currently available is a pittance with respect to the magnitude of disasters vulnerable nations and people are facing and will face. Human lives are at stake. Financing for loss and damage is an issue that cannot be deferred any longer. Governments need to take bold action on this issue. Today, 6 out of every 10 persons in Africa lack access to an effective early warning system – the most basic tool to save lives and protect livelihoods.
I call on you to support the efforts of the Secretary-General on ensuring 100 per cent global coverage of early warning systems within the next five years. The World Meteorological Organization will present an action plan on how to achieve this at COP27.
Let me be frank. All indicators on climate are heading in the wrong direction. The window of opportunity to avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis is closing. The world desperately needs hope and can no longer afford the blame while we continue to backslide.
We need progress at COP27. Progress that shows that leaders fully comprehend the scale of the emergency we face and the value of COP, as a space where world leaders come together to solve problems and take responsibility. Every moment counts. It’s time to show that we are moving in the right direction.
I look forward to working with you all towards a positive outcome at COP27. An outcome that shows our collective commitment to addressing the climate crisis because people, and the children here today, and the planet matter.

Source: United Nations