GESTIÓN DE RIESGOS CLIMÁTICOS PARA EL SECTOR DE LA SALUD EN NICARAGUA

This report, produced by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the UNDP, evaluates climate risks and management capacities within Nicaragua's health sector. It identifies a strong correlation between extreme weather events—such as floods and droughts—and the prevalence of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, while highlighting systemic vulnerabilities in water access, sanitation, and health infrastructure. The document recommends integrating climate risk management into national health policies and improving inter-institutional coordination to protect public health and achieve broader development goals.

• Nicaragua's health sector is characterized by low spending, which leads to insufficient staffing, a lack of infrastructure, and limited capacity to manage climate-related health impacts. The country has approximately 0.37 doctors, 1.07 nurses or midwives, and 0.9 hospital beds per 1,000 people, rates that are roughly one-third of global averages.
• Observed climate trends in Nicaragua since 1960 show an average temperature increase of approximately 0.9°C. While annual precipitation has decreased by 5% to 6% per decade, there has been an increase in heavy precipitation events. Future projections suggest continued warming of 3°C to 4°C by the end of the century.
• Statistical analysis indicates clear seasonal patterns for diarrhea, dengue, and leptospirosis, suggesting that heavy rainfall and resulting stagnant water significantly influence the epidemiology of these diseases. For example, diarrhea cases in the analyzed regions peak in June and July, coinciding with the first annual rainfall peak.
• Human health vulnerability to climate conditions in Nicaragua is primarily driven by limited access to potable water and adequate sanitation. Other critical vulnerability factors include poor health service availability, lack of community organization, food insecurity, unsafe infrastructure, and gender inequality.
• Climate risks threaten the achievement of national and international development goals, including the reduction of maternal and infant mortality, the expansion of water and sanitation access, and the decrease of malnutrition. Climate-induced impacts, such as the destruction of infrastructure and increased disease prevalence, create obstacles to these objectives.
• Nicaragua possesses institutional structures for disaster risk management (SINAPRED) and climate change (MARENA), but lacks established inter-institutional coordination mechanisms with the health sector. While climate risks are mentioned in the National Human Development Plan, they are largely absent from the National Health Policy.
• To ensure a holistic approach, the report proposes the creation of a comprehensive national climate risk management program. This program should integrate climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction into national planning, establish sector-specific risk assessments, and improve the accessibility of data for early warning systems.

APA

Keller, M. (2013). GESTIÓN DE RIESGOS CLIMÁTICOS PARA EL SECTOR DE LA SALUD EN NICARAGUA. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/crm_nicaragua_es.pdf

Chicago

Keller, Marius. GESTIÓN DE RIESGOS CLIMÁTICOS PARA EL SECTOR DE LA SALUD EN NICARAGUA. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2013. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/crm_nicaragua_es.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Keller |first1=Marius |title=GESTIÓN DE RIESGOS CLIMÁTICOS PARA EL SECTOR DE LA SALUD EN NICARAGUA |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=January 2013 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/crm_nicaragua_es.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{keller2013gestin, author = {Keller, Marius}, title = {{GESTIÓN DE RIESGOS CLIMÁTICOS PARA EL SECTOR DE LA SALUD EN NICARAGUA}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2013}, month = jan, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/crm_nicaragua_es.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }