The project called Climate Change Health Impacts Photojournalism Project was introduced on Monday in front of different members of the community at Palasia Hotel.
“The purpose of the project is to produce a book that will highlight the health impacts of climate change in the community using photojournalism, to bring about what is the community’s voice and concerns regarding climate change in terms of their health status,” Pearl Marumoto, Administrator of Emergency Health Program of the MOH, said in an interview.
Marumoto said the coffee table book will feature photos that will show how much a Palauan feels about climate change. It will showcase the Palauan people’s behavioral, emotional, physical and spiritual concerns while living in a place where climate change is taking place.
“We provide a venue for the people to tell the ministry their health concerns,” Marumoto added.
She said among the people’s concerns are food security, such as the salt intrusion in their taro patch. “Or what is the nutritional value of food we eat every day. How does climate change affect the lifestyle or non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension in the country,” Marumoto said.
The book is scheduled to come out in Spring next year. It will be in Palauan with English translations.
During the introduction of the project on Monday, two guest speakers, Ron Leidich of Planet Blue Sea Kayak and Yimnang Golbuu of Palau International Coral Reef Center, shed light on the topics of tourism industry and marine life in relation to climate change.
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