International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Plenary session

Life expectancy in arctic populations has greatly improved over the last 50 years. Much of this improvement can be attributed health research that has resulted in a reduction in morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, and the vaccine preventable diseases of childhood. However despite these improvements in health indicators of arctic residents, life expectancy and infant mortality remain higher in indigenous arctic residents in the US Arctic, northern Canada, and Greenland when compared to arctic residents of Nordic countries.

In addition the rapid pace of change both in arctic societies and environment present new challenges to the health and well being of Arctic residents. While the change from a lifestyle based on subsistence hunting and gathering to global market based economy has many benefits, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cardiovascular diseases are of concern. Globalization has meant improvements in the transportation infrastructure. Communities once isolated, are now linked to major cities by air transportation, and are now vulnerable to the importation of many infectious diseases, and the health effects of environmental contaminants transported to Arctic regions via atmospheric and ocean transport. The impacts of climate change on the health of arctic residents will vary depending on factors such as age, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, culture, location and capacity of the local health infrastructure systems to adapt.

The International Polar Year (IPY) represents a unique opportunity to focus world attention on arctic human health and to further stimulate circumpolar cooperation on emerging arctic human health concerns. The Arctic Human Health Initiative (AHHI) is an Arctic Council IPY initiative that aims to build and expand on existing Arctic Council and International Union for Circumpolar Health’s human health research activities. An important aspect of the AHHI will be the development of health policies from research findings allowing the implementation of appropriate intervention, prevention and control measures at the community level, and to establish an organizational infrastructure for Arctic human health research, planning, prioritization, and coordination beyond 2009.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)