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Published on 13 February 2023

On February 1, over 40 attendees were introduced to Godfred Boateng's research programs – he discussed some examples of current global environmental changes that have destabilized the earth's climate and threaten to cause resource insecurity, greater poverty, poor health outcomes with the spread of new and infectious diseases. For instance, he discussed the syndemic relationships between food and water insecurity with the higher rates of HIV infection.

Drawing from his quantitative research conducted in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi, he highlighted the various types of resource insecurity among households in informal settlements. Components such as food, water, energy, and housing insecurity exacerbate the challenges poor and marginalized communities already face. In his presentation, Prof. Boateng provides an in-depth, multi-dimensional analysis of energy security and the adverse consequences on human health. He highlighted effects such as increased indoor air pollution, acute bronchitis symptomatology, COPD, asthma attack, and poor psychosocial health.

Prof. Boateng targets the need for intervention with local communities, community partners, and the collaboration with global health faculty and organizations to address the problems faced by vulnerable people. He advocates for an anticipatory intervention approach rather than a reactionary one, as global environmental changes and resource inequality lead to a greater existential humanitarian crisis.

Watch the seminar presentation below:

Learn more about Godfred's research: https://www.yorku.ca/dighr/project/global-and-environmental-health-lab/

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