By Maria Famakinwa

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Nigerians have continued to react to the recent announcement by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), that the current excessive heat being experienced in the country would remain for a while.

According to the agency, the states that would be mostly affected are those in the North-Central and the East; Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Cross River, and FCT. Other vulnerable regions are the South-West, coastal areas, Taraba, Adamawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Sokoto.

The heat stress warning issued by the agency showed that the rising temperatures and high humidity levels over the next few days may cause thermal discomfort across several regions. NiMet warned that potential health risks include fatigue, irritability, reduced focus, impaired motor skills, and decreased productivity.

Heat is an important environmental and occupational health hazard. Heat stress is the leading cause of weather-related deaths and can exacerbate underlying illnesses including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health, and asthma, and can increase the risk of accidents and transmission of some infectious diseases. Heatstroke is a medical emergency with a high case fatality rate.

Some Akure residents who spoke with The Hope expressed frustration about the NiMET prediction as they complained that since we are in March, they expected the heatwave to have subsided or give way for the rainy season.

An accountant, Mrs Omolara Bankole, stated that she was not happy with the NiMET prediction because it fell short of Nigerians’ expectations since all states in the country are experiencing the heatwave the same way and not limited to the 19 states mentioned by the agency. She however said that she had no choice but to cope and hope for the best.

Her words: “I don’t want to agree that the heatwave affected some states more than the other, the heatwave affects everyone the same way. The prediction was unexpected because everyone was hoping that the rain would start soon. The only thing I do to console myself was that it wouldn’t last long. Since we are in March, besides, some of their past predictions failed, I believe that if God says that it will rain throughout this month, nothing can stop it.

“Besides, after the prediction, they listed ways to cope with the heat, like staying hydrated by consuming plenty of fluids, wearing loose-fitting clothing to minimize exposure to high temperatures, and avoiding strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day. I will also enjoy citizens applying these coping mechanisms while the heat waves last. Thank God that it has started raining in some parts of the country, an indication that we are already in the rainy season. Let’s keep hope alive, stay hydrated, and eat healthy to survive this period.”

A civil servant, Mrs Itunu Omosebi, said that she could not remember when last she creamed her body and that of her children due to the unbearable heat. She said: “I have stopped creaming my body and that of my children for a very long time. I don’t understand this kind of weather, if I just finished bathing, I will start to sweat again. To worsen the situation, the electricity is not regular.

“When I read the recent prediction of NiMET, I was sad because we are in March and everyone is waiting for the rain to begin. I have yet to get proper education about whether March is for heatwave instead of the usual wet weather that is known to be. Probably, God is angry with us because of our sins. I don’t know what else to say than to beg God for mercy, ” she lamented.

Sharing a similar view, an okada rider, Mr Jimoh Akanbi, explained that he had devised a coping strategy before the NiMET prediction when the heat became unbearable. He said: “I make sure I bath five times daily especially when electricity is not guaranteed. My pregnant wife is my major concern at this time. Most times, the hot weather denies her sound sleep even though she sleeps on the tiled floor.

“Our children also feel the heat as they sweat most times, especially at night, and begin to cry. What I do is to bathe them when there is no power supply. Going through all these at night when I am supposed to be sleeping also impacted negatively on my general well-being. The heat is unbearable, and with no power, we can’t even turn on fans to cool down. It is like being trapped in an oven. I pray that it starts to rain soon so that people will not be relying on electricity for sound sleep.”

A public health physician, Dr. Omowumi Osuji, advised Nigerians to prioritize their health as the heatwave ravages the country to stay healthy. She added that people should take a lot of water to stay hydrated as she explained that people lose more body fluid through sweating but may not know they have lost so much water. “That is why you see the urine is concentrated now. So, we advise people to take a lot of water because that would help to promote metabolism in the body.

“Shower as often as possible to help reduce the heat, eat more vegetables and fruits. The type of foods we eat can also affect how our body during this heat wave. People should eat seafood, vegetables, watermelons, and cucumbers. It is also very important for people to ventilate their rooms. Open the windows to allow for fresh air. People with underlying medical conditions should avoid excessive heat exposure while those in extremely hot areas have to be cautious about their body temperature,” she warned.