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Through a virtual event attended by more than 100 representatives from funding agencies, academia, UN organizations, governmental units, and civil society, the Global Health Institute (GHI) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) launched its new flagship program on climate change and health, despite the challenging time Lebanon is passing through. Launched on October 23, 2024, the Cli-Health Program (CHP) is a pioneering initiative of GHI focused on exploring the nexus of climate change, health, and social justice in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The program is in collaboration with the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship and the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI), with the support of the International Development Research Center (IDRC) and the Ford Foundation.
The event featured opening remarks by AUB's president, Dr. Fadlo Khuri and GHI's founding director, Dr. Shadi Saleh, in addition to keynote speeches from funders and supporters of the program. Participants were introduced to the Cli-Health Program through a detailed presentation about its scope, objectives, and key projects. The event also included a panel discussion among key experts in the field of climate science, health systems, policy, gender, and social justice.
In his inaugural speech, AUB's president, Dr. Fadlo Khuri elaborated on GHI's strategic position to lead such a program on climate change and health given its track-record in spearheading regional programs that address health challenges affecting both the MENA region and the Global South. “Climate change and its impact on health is no longer a future concern; it is an urgent issue we must confront with all available resources," Dr. Khuri stated. He continued to highlight his trust in GHI's ability to address that nexus not only from the research perspective but also from the policy perspective while mobilizing the communities as needed given the Institute's wide network of partners regionally.
Dr. Shadi Saleh, Founding Director of GHI, reaffirmed the Institute's commitment to enhancing the resilience of health systems, healthcare organizations, and communities regionally addressing challenges related to climate change through the Cli-Health Program, as well as epidemics and pandemics, conflicts and crises while exploring innovative solutions to do so through the different programs the Institute houses. He highlighted the need for a collaborative approach to address these global health challenges affecting the region. He continued to express his positive impression about the potential impact the Cli-Health Program can make through the established partnership with the IFI and the Asfari Institute at AUB and the continued support of IDRC and the Ford Foundation.
Saba Al Mubaslat, director of the Middle East and North Africa Office at the Ford Foundation, and Montasser Kamal, director of Global Health at the IDRC delivered keynote speeches during the launch event. They both reflected on their pleasant experience as funding agencies with GHI and highlighted how the Cli-Health Program aligns with the strategic vision of their organizations stressing on the importance of engaging relevant stakeholders and policy makers to enable translation of research into actionable practices and policy.
The panel discussion titled "Climate Change and Health in MENA: Bridging Equity, Social Justice, and Policy for a Resilient Future" was co-moderated by Dr. Myrna Doumit, professor at Hariri School of Nursing at AUB and an expert in health systems, and Nour El Arnaout, associate director of GHI. It featured Dr. Kenza Khomsi from Morocco, Lina Abou Habib from the Asfari Institute, and Yara Mourad from IFI who emphasized the urgent need to address the multifaceted health impacts of climate change and the necessity for widespread change across sectors. They also discussed how climate change exacerbates existing inequalities and increases health risks, highlighting the importance of implementing sustainable practices and comprehensive policies.
The Cli-Health Program launch marks a significant step toward a more integrated approach to climate and health, paving the way for future initiatives and collaborations. You can watch the full event recording, here. For more information about the Global Health Institute (GHI) and the Cli-health Program (CHP), visit this link.
About GHI
The Global Health Institute (GHI) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) addresses global health challenges with a focus on context and sustainable impact by employing an interdisciplinary approach. GHI comprises three divisions. The first is the Programs Division that is focused on research, policy, and advocacy. The second is the Academy Division which offers capacity building initiatives to different target populations. And the third is the ASSIST Division that empowers different actors at the community level especially non-governmental organizations through a wide range of services and support.