Nigeria is increasingly grappling with severe heat waves, which are intensified by climate change and urbanization. These extreme temperatures pose a significant threat to public health, especially for vulnerable populations and a healthcare system with limited resources. As a nation highly affected by climate change, Nigeria urgently needs to adopt a strategic plan to mitigate these risks and build a more resilient health sector.
The article proposes a three-pronged approach to address this challenge. First, the government should develop a national Heat Action Plan (HAP), which is currently nonexistent. The HAP would include public awareness campaigns, training for healthcare workers, and the establishment of cooling centers to reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths, particularly in the most vulnerable regions of the country.
Second, a structural upgrade of Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure is necessary. With only a fraction of its primary healthcare centers (PHCs) fully functional, the government needs to invest in modernizing these facilities with heat-mitigating designs and renewable energy sources. This will ensure uninterrupted healthcare services during extreme heat events. Lastly, integrating climate change into the medical education curriculum is crucial to better equip health professionals to recognize and manage climate-related health risks.
Summarized from the original article published here: The Nation
