Concerns over health implications of prolonged heat wave
THERE are widespread complaints among Nigerians about the excessive heat presently being experienced in virtually every part of the country.
It is now common to see people lying outside on the streets or staying out late in the night just to cope with the weather which has become extremely hot in recent times.
For many Nigerians, the much talked about climate change is becoming more evident by the day with the excessive heat being experienced since the beginning of the year.
The Nigerian Metrological Agency ( NIMET) in its Seasonal Climate Prediction in February 2024, warned Nigerians of a heat wave that is expected to be prolonged and will be with us for a while despite the rainfall.
Director- General of Nimet, Prof. Charles Anosike, said the temperature for 2024, both day and night, is predicted to be warmer than the long- term average over most parts of the country in March and May.
Heat wave is an abnormal rise in environmental temperature and humidity over a period. This happens from time to time and across various climes especially humidity- prone areas located in valleys characterized by dry winds and hot climates. However, the advent of global climate change has escalated the rate of occurrence of heat waves across the world and even in unlikely areas and period.
The World Health Organisation ( WHO) estimates that more than 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes including the climate crisis which is the single biggest health threat facing humanity.
In Nigeria, the heat wave which leaves people sweating profusely, especially at night is worsened by the epileptic power supply in the country making it difficult for them to sleep. The situation is worse for little children who cry most of the night because of the temperature which keeps them restless.
John Omije who works as a carpenter in the Lugbe neighborhood narrated to The Guardian how he hardly sleeps at night due to the unending cries of his five- year- old child especially at night because of the extreme heat.
Omije stated that he has kept vigil for several months now because his little son who he bathes every night at least four times before the day breaks.
He said: “The cry of this baby does not allow me to sleep; it is heart- wrenching seeing a little child sweating as if they poured a bucket of water on him, I bath him before he goes to bed around 10pm but before you know it, he is seriously sweating again, he becomes restless and starts crying. The whole thing is affecting me, because I dose off most times when I get to my workshop, but I have no option; I am only praying for a serious rain that can douse the situation.”
Another Nigerian, Chidinma Okereke bemoaned the effect of the constant heat on her family’s health.
She said: “The heat is dealing with my family seriously. Look at my body, the amount of heat rashes in my body is nothing compared to the ones in the body of my husband and children. “There is no power supply to even switch on the air- conditioner. Outside is so hot and inside is even worse.”
Describing the experience as depressing, Gimba Mohammed stated that the amount he spent to power their generator was enough to buy him a parcel of land in their village.
Meanwhile, experts have warned that the current heat wave poses a serious threat to human health.
Professor of Otorhinolaryngology & Public Health Professional at the University of Abuja, Prof. Titus Ibekwe told The Guardian that severe dehydration, excessive sweating, exhaustion, vital organs damage and death may result from this adverse situation if not well mitigated through the protection of the human body by keeping it moist and cool regularly through adequate hydration.
Ibekwe who stressed the need to protect the environment especially our forests from environmental degradation to reduce global warming, stated that we are experiencing heat waves in most parts of Nigeria which ironically persist even during the rainy season.
Federal He expressed Capital worry Territory that ( Gwagwalada FCT) has recorded in the consistently high ambient temperatures of 45 degrees centigrade and above this year, which is dangerous and could be harmful to human health if not properly handled.
Ibekwe pointed out that extreme heat wave is usually associated with many fataliti es especially among children and the elderly, due to their nascent physiological homeostasis ( ability to self- regulate the body system).
The university don observed that the deleterious effects are maximally felt when heat wa ves occur within three days in succession.
deficiency He lamented and limited that the access widespread to water energ y , sanitation, and hygiene ( WASH) and healthcare services further aggravate heat- related health risks as individuals are left with very limited options for individual coping strategies, such as air conditioning.
“People are advised to stay mainly indoors within this period, under an air conditioner, take regular baths or m op their skin with water and also drink the same as much as possible.
Unfortunately, the limited power supply in Nigeria currently is a huge impediment coupled with economic challenges that will compel people outdoors to fend for their daily bread irrespective of the unfavorable weather conditions. It is strongly recommended that the populace be oriented on the risk of heatwaves and precautionary measures by the environmental authorities. The same body should also make predictions ahead of time on the likely days so people can prepare ahead of time”, he added.
Also speaking with The Guardian, an environment expert and Professor Emeritus, University of Lagos, Prof Babajide Alo, observed that climate change is causing the excessive rise in temperature.
Alo noted that extensive human dehydration is the immediate serious impact of this heat, adding that there is a need to advise Nigerians to take precautions against the heat/ high temperatures and continuously drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.”
He added that the little rains that have started falling do not fall long enough to cool the excessively high temperatures stressing that when the rainy season properly takes off, we should get a reprieve.
Activist In a chat and with the The Founder/ Guardian, Global Environmental Lead of Women Environmental Programme, Dr Priscilla M Achakpa said that the extremely high temperature being experienced in the country was a result of the depletion of the ozone layer in the atmosphere.
Achakpa also blamed the situation on human activities like the cutting of trees, gas flaring, industrialization and other activities that are affecting the natural environment.
into She the said: atmosphere “The depletion which of the allows ozone more layer ultraviolet ( UV) radiation to reach the earth’s surface directly is now causing the heat wave. The heat wave we have this year is much more than what we had last year and a lot of people are being affected’.