CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT FOR THE HEALTH SECTOR IN NICARAGUA

The report identifies significant climate risks to human health in Nicaragua, primarily driven by the interaction of extreme weather events—such as floods and droughts—with high social vulnerability, particularly lack of clean water and sanitation. Statistical analysis shows seasonal patterns for diarrhœa, dengue, and leptospirosis linked to rainfall and temperature. While Nicaragua has institutional frameworks for disaster risk and climate change, the report finds a lack of inter-institutional coordination with the health sector and deficiencies in data monitoring. Recommendations include expanding water and sanitation infrastructure, improving health services, and integrating climate risk into national health policies.

• Nicaragua's health sector is characterized by low expenditures, resulting in shortages of infrastructure and staff, with per capita health expenditure being the second lowest in the region.
• Observed climate trends since 1960 show an average temperature increase of approximately 0.9° C and a decrease in rainfall of about 5 to 6 percent per decade, although heavy rainfall events have increased.
• Climate projections indicate continued warming of 3° C to 4° C by the end of the century, with rainfall trends remaining unclear but generally negative.
• Statistical analysis reveals that diarrhœa, dengue, and leptospirosis in the regions of Managua, León, and Chinandega follow seasonal patterns strongly influenced by heavy rainfall and standing water.
• Human health vulnerability to climate hazards is primarily driven by limited access to clean water and sanitation, alongside factors such as food insecurity, gender inequality, and inadequate health service availability.
• Climate-related health risks threaten the achievement of national development goals, including the reduction of maternal and infant mortality and the expansion of water and sanitation access.
• Nicaragua lacks established inter-institutional coordination mechanisms between its climate/disaster agencies (MARENA and SINAPRED) and the health sector (MINSA).
• Climate risk is recognized in the 'National Human Development Plan' but is largely absent from the 'National Health Policy,' which only alludes to the immediate effects of extreme events.
• The national capacity for early warning and risk analysis is severely limited by a deficient weather station network; as of 2007, only 10 of 21 major watersheds had a weather station.
• Priority risk management actions include improving water quality and sanitation, expanding health infrastructure, implementing reforestation for flood control, and creating a real-time monitoring system for climate and health data.

APA

Keller, M. (2013). CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT FOR THE HEALTH SECTOR IN NICARAGUA. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/crm_nicaragua.pdf

Chicago

Keller, Marius. CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT FOR THE HEALTH SECTOR IN NICARAGUA. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2013. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/crm_nicaragua.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Keller |first1=Marius |title=CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT FOR THE HEALTH SECTOR IN NICARAGUA |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=January 2013 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/crm_nicaragua.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{keller2013climate, author = {Keller, Marius}, title = {{CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT FOR THE HEALTH SECTOR IN NICARAGUA}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2013}, month = jan, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/crm_nicaragua.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }