In order to make sure that the world knows and understands the health impact of the rapid climate changes, the World Health Organization officials hosted a "side event" at the Copenhagen climate change conference.
As per the WHO officials, the impact of climate changes on people's health can be "widespread and catastrophic".
"Climate change is actually about people’s survival. The effects are already underway and will probably escalate in the future", said Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, a Scientist in WHO’s Public Health and Environment Department.
Calling the serious health issues "all climate-sensitive", Dr. Maria Neira, WHO director of Public Health and Environment stressed that global warming is most likely to increase the magnitude of all the major health concerns which are already gripping the world, including malnutrition. It has been estimated that about 3.5 million people die every year because of it, closely followed by diarrheal diseases, which are responsible for 2 million deaths and malaria, which kills about 1 million patients every year.
According to WHO, health issues are directly linked with both extremes which happen due to climate change - drought and floods.
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