South and Southeast Asia Climate and Health Responders Course – Session 3: Addressing Heat-Related Illness and Mortality

The South and Southeast Asia Climate and Health Responders Course is an 11-session online training initiative designed to equip health professionals with the knowledge, confidence, and skills necessary to address the growing health challenges posed by climate change. The course, which is hosted by the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE), aims to:

• Improve public health and clinical practice related to climate change.
• Enable professionals to educate others in their institutions, and
• Foster a vibrant and agile community of educators, advocates, and policymakers.

The weekly sessions cover diverse climate-health themes, including air quality, food and water security, extreme weather events, mental health, resilient health systems, and health equity.

Session 3 Recap: Heat-Related Illness and Mortality

Date: 21 May 2025

Moderator: Prof. Dr Victor Hoe, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Universiti Malaya

This session focused on the rising burden of heat-related illnesses (HRIs) in South and Southeast Asia—regions increasingly affected by prolonged heatwaves and extreme temperatures.

Expert Presentations

1. Dr. Vidya Venugopal, Professor at SRIHER and NIHR GHRC NCD-EC Country Director, India

Dr. Venugopal provided compelling epidemiological and physiological evidence linking extreme heat to a broad range of health issues—ranging from heat stroke to chronic kidney disease. Drawing from field data on over 4,000 workers and years of occupational heat research, she illustrated how indoor and outdoor workers in high-heat environments experience heightened risks. She highlighted the urgent need for workplace-based interventions and early warning systems to safeguard vulnerable labour sectors.

2. Dr. Priya Dutta, Senior Research Scientist, Ashoka University and CCDC

A key architect of South Asia’s first Heat Action Plan (Ahmedabad, 2013), Dr. Dutta shared the case study of how a collaborative, multisectoral approach helped mitigate mortality during heatwaves. She presented the framework for temperature-triggered alerts and outlined India’s evolving policy guidance on heat preparedness. Her experience demonstrates the power of localised planning and data-informed policymaking to address climate threats.

3. Nymisha Herrera Nimmagadda, Climate x Health Lead, Swasti

Through the Climate Care Champions Program, Nymisha highlighted how over 2,200 community health workers were trained to recognise, respond to, and educate others about HRIs. She emphasized the importance of contextual training, practical IEC materials, and community engagement to foster behavioural change and build local resilience to extreme heat.

Learning Objectives

Participants were guided to:

• Understand projected temperature trends and extreme heat risks in Southeast Asia.
• Identify vulnerable populations, including outdoor workers, the elderly, children, and pregnant individuals.
• Recognise heat-sensitive health conditions and their pathophysiological impacts.
• Apply knowledge of medical risks and interventions for heat-related conditions.
• Explore the role of early warning systems and institutional preparedness.

Key Outcomes and Reflections

This session reinforced the urgent need to integrate climate-health responses into public health systems, especially in rapidly urbanising and heat-prone regions. From hospital-based surveillance and early-warning tools to grassroots-level capacity building, the session offered replicable models and practical tools.

Most notably, the session highlighted the role of health professionals not just as responders, but as educators, advocates, and system-strengtheners in the face of climate change.

About the Course

Participants who attend at least 7 of the 11 sessions and pass the final examination (≥70%) will receive a Certificate of Participation from GCCHE. All sessions are recorded and supported with slide decks and supplemental resources.

Remaining Sessions

Topics in upcoming weeks will include climate-related mental health, resilient health systems, climate justice, and health equity.