Canberra Cardiologist, Dr Arnagretta Hunter, provides an insight into how the fires are impacting both her personal and professional worlds.

From waiting for her family and friends and driving through bushfire affected areas to safety  to the air pollution currently surrounding her Canberra home, Dr Hunter has experienced first hand the devastating impact of the recent fires and believes they are worse than before.

Dr Hunter states,  “The extensive drought is not normal. Water shortages are not normal. The change in temperature is not normal and these bush fires are not normal. It is clear this is a climate transition.” 

Dr Arnagretta Hunter is a Canberra cardiologist and the ACT chair of Doctors for the Environment Australia

This article was originally published in iNews on 4 January 2020.

For further information on bushfires and their health impact please read our fact sheet Bush fires and Health.

Add your voice to the growing number of doctors calling for a Climate Health Emergency to be declared in federal Parliament, by signing our petition.