Healthcare in a Climatically Challenged Area: A Case Study of the Indian Sundarbans

This paper reviews the availability and accessibility of healthcare institutions in a geographically challenged and climatic shock prone region of the Indian Sundarbans. Given the apparent lack of preparedness of public health facilities particularly in the face of climate shocks such as the cyclonic storm and flood of Aila in 2009, the paper proposes an alternative healthcare delivery model in sync with the WHO recommendation in 1978 on Primary Health Care. The model reiterates the need for proper utilization of existing local health resource and advocates for channelizing these through an innovative service delivery model, custom made for the unique difficulties of the region and to enhance people’s resilience towards ever-increasing multifaceted
vulnerability.