Health professionals have urged governments to adopt Health in All Policies strategies in addressing the ecological crisis affecting South Australia’s coastline and its marine and estuarine waters.
They caution that the toxic algal bloom, triggered by a climate change-induced marine heatwave, poses significant health risks, affecting livelihoods and damaging both physical and mental health, as well as cultural well-being.
“Decisions by our government[s] are impacting the…health of our community…and this algal bloom is a local example of that for us here in South Australia.” said Dr Kate Wylie, a GP in Adelaide and Executive Director of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA)