Workshop speakers and participants at the Paulo Facin auditorium, Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG) in Patos, Paraíba State, Brazil

The workshop kicked off with a presentation by Fiocruz researcher Christovam Barcellos, who outlined the goals of the HARMONIZE project. He emphasised the importance of harmonising multiscale climate and health data to improve public health outcomes, particularly in regions at risk of desertification, such as the Sertão in northeast Brazil. Barcellos discussed the ongoing challenges of these areas, including population ageing, migration, and the increasing risks of infectious diseases like dengue and leishmaniasis. He highlighted the need for local and regional data integration, stressing that climate change is already impacting these communities.

Christovam Barcellos (Fiocruz) highlights that climate change is already impacting

the Brazilian semi-arid region

To address the challenges posed by vector-borne diseases driven by climate change,  a roundtable discussion was held, led by Raquel Lana (Barcelona Supercomputing Center) and Xisto Souza Filho (Federal University of Campina Grande). Participants from local health departments shared their experiences and concerns about the rising incidence of diseases like dengue and leishmaniasis in Patos and surrounding municipalities such as Mãe d’Água, one of the study hotspots of the project. Medeiros, an experienced coordinator of the endemic disease agents in Patos, pointed out the persistent issues of urban expansion, inadequate sanitation, and the lack of environmental education as contributing factors to the spread of these diseases. The discussion underscored the importance of intersectoral collaboration and the need for innovative approaches to disease surveillance and control.

Raquel Lana (BSC) and Xisto Souza Filho (UFCG)

lead a roundtable discussion on climate and vector-borne diseases

One of these innovative approaches developed by HARMONIZE was demonstrated  by Diego Xavier (Fiocruz), who showcased a web-GIS prototype designed to assist local municipalities in mapping disease risks. This tool offers a promising solution for integrating data from various sources to better understand and address the health challenges posed by climate change. The participants explored the possibility of creating a detailed map of Patos, subdivided into neighbourhoods, to enhance local planning and response efforts. Another highlight was the discussion on the application of drones in health studies, led by Maria Isabel Escada (INPE) and Ana Rorato (INPE). They detailed how drones could be used to survey landscapes and identify potential disease hotspots, such as areas with poor sanitation, stagnant water, and high humidity. 

Maria Isabel Escada (INPE) explains how drones can be effectively used to describe landscapes that favour vector-borne disease transmission

The workshop concluded with a group discussion where participants pinpointed specific locations in Patos that should be prioritised for drone flights and other field activities of the HARMONIZE team. The collaboration between UFCG, Fiocruz, INPE, and local government departments, such as the Health, Environment, Education, and Agriculture Secretariats of Patos and Mãe d’Água, was seen as a crucial step toward creating a comprehensive, region-wide strategy to assess the local environmental conditions associated with the transmission of infectious diseases.

Diego Xavier (Fiocruz) presents a HARMONIZE tool to support local mapping for monitoring and planning disease surveillance actions