Swaddled in Tremendous Heat
With temperatures across the country soaring up to 40 degrees Celsius and above, Nigerians have had to trudge through their daily struggles to make ends meet under both the effects of several stifling governmental policies and a record-breaking blisteringly hot and humid weather. It is like being wrapped in thin foil and tossed in a ceaselessly operating oven, some say, or like being stuck in an airless room, or a hothouse. It is like pitching a tent too close to the sun, this time sans the foolhardiness of Icarus. The ongoing heatwave, a situation never before witnessed at such scale, has precipitated profound effects on the quality of our lives and the nature of our work. Yet, there exists a gap in reportage covering these impacts, or substantial analysis focused on measures to improve situations and prevent a worsening. It is as though nobody in power knows exactly what to do, or how. And per the usual way, citizens are expected to don the “Nigerian spirit” of doggedness, grapple in literal darkness, and dampen the severity of the matter with light humour.
Research has linked the rising temperatures to a rapidly deteriorating climate and global warming effects. A complex combination of factors is involved, the bottom line of which entails that the constant burning of fossil fuels by humans lead to the release of planet warming greenhouse gases which trigger, through a cascade of mechanisms, unprecedented outcomes. The heatwaves occur as a result of an intensifying high-pressure system which causes atmospheric pressure over an area to build up. A sinking air column is formed over this area, which gets compressed, heats up, and often dries out. The air column acts as a sort of heat dome or cap which traps the latent heat that has already been absorbed by the landscape. Due to this pressure system, faster-moving air currents are pushed out quicker than supposed. This consequently peels the clouds away, creating clear skies, and offering the sun a direct, unhindered contact with the earth’s surface, thus intensifying the heat and prolonging the duration of the heatwave. These weather changes occur cyclically and are considered typical when they happen within certain timeframes and temperature ranges. However, the accelerated and sustained pattern recently experienced point to the fact that broader circumstances outside of the usual are at play.
What we are witnessing in real-time is a response from nature itself, a lament over our unbridled obsession with ‘advancements’, such that we do not know when to stop. We take so much from our environment and offer so little in return. Uncontrolled carbon emissions, rampant destruction of biodiversity, the glossy appeal of urbanisation, and improper industrial waste disposal — all activities saturated with the ideal of making human existence smoother but cursed with greed and a malignant lack of foresight. We are unaware, or – even far worse – we simply do not care, of the risks our actions and inactions pose to our collective lives. Our ignorance, surely, will be our undoing. It is easy, especially for the government, to look away and pretend that we are not in a crisis; we can after all wait for the cool of the rainy season to ease the discomfort of the sweltering nights. But pretence can only shield us so far, as experts posit that even heavier seasons of heat are underway.
Impacts
Scalding heat conditions doubtless have huge impacts in terms of overall public health and the economic output.
Across hospitals, heat-related illnesses, such as discomforting rashes, cramps, fainting spells, and exhaustion, are on the rise. There is, also, a compromise in the quality of breathable air as rising temperatures increase the rate of generation of air pollutants. Health professionals have warned that high temperatures increase the risk of a heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Equally, the temperatures can alter the normal hemodynamic state, effectively raising the blood pressure, and can cause an exacerbation of certain medical conditions, like asthma and heart diseases. These conditions can take longer time to resolve given the situation. Courtesy of the erratic power supply plaguing the country and with reduced nighttime cooling, individuals are more prone to higher heat stress, irregular and inadequate sleep hours. This translates to a reduced daytime mental function state that invariably affects their productivity at work or school. These effects seem more pronounced among young university students residing in crowded hostels and the elderly with weakened immune functions.
Among majority of Nigerians engaged in outdoor work, the impact of the unfriendly weather condition can become quite drastic. Store owners across markets are scared of not making sales if they do not seek out customers beyond the shade of their stores. And Uber drivers, according to this Rest of World report, are scared of using their limited fuel to run the AC when they do not have customers; they fear incurring extra fuel costs in their already tight budget. In the past year, fuel price has skyrocketed by nearly 300%, further reducing the options of respite for the average individual.
With prolonged sun exposure, severe dehydration can result, and if neglected overtime, could develop into an acute kidney injury. Even among the demographic already suffering such disease, mild dehydration can facilitate dysfunction.
Solutions
It is abhorrent, yet a normal phenomenon, for Nigerians to downplay these hazards. This is not an indictment. Seeing that we are a people driven purely by ‘hustle culture’, and because most Nigerians do not prioritise their health unless the manifestations of ill health become apparent, it is of the essence that public health outreaches are initiated. This will aid in immediate cushioning of the effects of the heatwave. Provision of cooling resources and reminders to stay hydrated and, as much as possible, to reduce exposure to the unforgiving sun are welcome strategies.
Importantly, companies and institutions, like schools, etc., should recognize the possible health hazards facing their employees and students. These institutions can either implement heat-related hazard bonuses, off-days, or other relevant measures. At schools, student welfare should be prioritised and off-days should be observed on days when temperatures climb unbearably, or they can make the most of the morning hours while the sun’s glare hasn’t turned the oppressive.
There is a need to recognize the urgency of the matter. Big government policies will perhaps take years to implement. We don’t have the luxury of years. As such, we must do our best to mitigate the effects and protect ourselves from being swaddled in tremendous heat.
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