
Paula Teresa Sta Maria
Philippine College of Physicians, PhilippinesPresentation Title:
I.M. Doctor of Earth” Merging Public health and climate activism
Abstract
Climate change and environmental degradation continue to claim lives prematurely. The ‘climate penalty’ manifested in diseases like strokes, heart diseases, cancers and exacerbation of respiratory illnesses drive the healthcare sector to increase their capacities to handle the escalating health care demands. But as medical services are rendered, the healthcare sector emit vast amounts of greenhouse gases globally, worsening the climate crisis. How can we deliver our mission and harm no one – especially Mother Earth? As a medical community, our mandate is to promote health, prevent diseases and disabilities, and to protect a quality life. Clearly, to restore peoples’ health, we have to restore earth first. The challenge lies on how to rally everybody towards the vision “together, we lead for people and planetary health.” This session highlights the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats in integrating the agenda of managing and mitigating further effects of climate change and environmental threats, while at the same time developing a sustainable healthcare system in the context of a medical organization.
Biography
Paula Teresa Sta Maria is an internist/pulmonologist by profession. A dedicated advocate of Mother Earth, she created the I.M. Doctor of Earth and married the medical profession to being a planetary doctor, and inspired the local medical practitioners to do the same thing.