Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Health Buzz
The scorching heat has probably been the subject of discussion among many Zimbabweans over the past few days, with high temperatures making everyday activities increasingly uncomfortable.
But beyond the discomfort, excessive heat can pose serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups and people who spend long hours outdoors.
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has warned that increased daytime temperatures and reduced cloud cover will bring more sunshine this week, with low-lying areas likely to experience particularly high temperatures.
While these conditions are expected to last for a relatively short period, they highlight the importance of preparing for heat before it becomes a prolonged health challenge.
Heat is often underestimated because its effects are not always immediately visible.
Unlike a storm or flood, which can cause obvious destruction within hours, the effects of excessive temperatures may develop gradually as people continue working outdoors, children play in the sun and households struggle to keep their living spaces cool.
Extreme heat is one of the most significant climate-related threats to human health globally.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 489 000 heat-related deaths were estimated to occur annually worldwide between 2000 and 2019. About 45 percent of these deaths occurred in Asia and 36 percent in Europe, illustrating the scale of the threat across different climates and populations.
The WHO has also warned that heat stress is the leading cause of weather-related deaths and can aggravate existing illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and respiratory conditions.
These figures are a sobering reminder that high temperatures should not be treated merely as a seasonal inconvenience. They are a health hazard that requires public awareness, early warnings and practical measures to protect those most at risk.
Global temperatures have been rising as human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, increase concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This long-term warming is raising the baseline from which individual heatwaves develop, making periods of extreme heat more likely and, in many regions, more intense.
For Zimbabwe, the implications are particularly important because much of the population depends on outdoor activities for livelihoods, including farming, construction, mining and informal trading. Workers in these sectors may have little choice but to remain exposed to the sun, even when temperatures become dangerously high.
The country’s hot and dry conditions can also intensify the effects of water scarcity. When temperatures rise, the body loses more water through sweating, while evaporation increases from soil, water bodies and agricultural land. Where water is already limited, maintaining adequate hydration becomes more difficult for households, workers and livestock owners.
The prospect of El Niño developing during the 2026–2027 season adds another layer of concern.
El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon associated with unusually warm sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. It changes atmospheric circulation and influences rainfall and temperature patterns across many parts of the world.
In southern Africa, El Niño events are commonly associated with below-normal rainfall and an increased risk of drought, although the effects vary between seasons and locations.
Reduced rainfall can leave soils drier, weaken water availability and increase pressure on crops and livestock.
For Zimbabwe, where agriculture remains highly sensitive to rainfall patterns, these conditions could deepen existing vulnerabilities if high temperatures coincide with inadequate rainfall.
For farmers, prolonged heat and insufficient rainfall could increase moisture loss from soils and crops, reduce pasture quality and raise the amount of water required by livestock. Heat stress can affect animal welfare and productivity, while crops experiencing water shortages may struggle to grow and produce satisfactory yields.
The effects could extend to household food security and agricultural incomes, particularly if farmers are unable to access irrigation water or other support to protect their crops.
The immediate danger, however, is to human health.
When the body becomes too hot, it attempts to regulate its temperature through sweating and increased blood flow to the skin. If heat exposure continues and the body cannot cool itself effectively, dehydration and heat-related illness can develop.
Heat exhaustion may present with heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, thirst and muscle cramps.
Experts say if a person becomes confused, collapses, has seizures or develops a very high body temperature, heatstroke must be suspected.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency that can cause organ damage or death if treatment is delayed.
People do not need to be elderly or have an existing illness to be affected. Nevertheless, children, older people, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses and those taking certain medicines may be particularly vulnerable. Outdoor workers and people living in poorly ventilated homes also face increased risks.
Dehydration is another concern.
When water lost through sweating is not replaced, people may experience headaches, tiredness, dizziness and reduced concentration.
For workers operating machinery, driving or undertaking physically demanding tasks, these effects can also increase the risk of accidents.
Prevention must start before temperatures peak.
The MSD has advised the public to drink sufficient water, wear light clothing, seek shade and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day. These measures are simple, but they can significantly reduce exposure when followed consistently.
Zimbabwe cannot prevent every hot spell, nor can it determine the precise local effects of El Niño months in advance. It can, however, reduce the harm caused by extreme heat through better preparedness, reliable public information and practical action.
Weather warnings must reach communities in time to influence daily decisions, while health education should help people recognise early symptoms before they become life-threatening.
As the country approaches the 2026–2027 season, the combination of rising global temperatures, current hot conditions and the possibility of El Niño-related rainfall deficits makes vigilance especially important.
Heat is not simply something to endure. It is a preventable health risk when people understand the dangers, have access to water and shade, and receive timely warnings.
Taking precautions now could help protect lives, livelihoods and food production in the months ahead.
Feedback: rumbidzai.zinyuke@zimpapers.co.zw
Source: Extreme heat: More than just uncomfortable weather – herald
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