Patients Throng Hospitals With Ailments Linked To Excessive Heat

Thousands of Nigerians across some states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have besieged secondary and tertiary hospitals with illnesses and diseases attributed to the prevailing excessive heat.

Some medical personnel, who spoke with LEADERSHIP Weekend on the impact of the current extreme weather, said their workload had been increased with more patients trooping into their facilities with heat-induced diseases.

Most of the patients seen in the wards by our correspondents mostly had rashes, measles and other childhood diseases the medical personnel attributed to heat.

A physician at the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja, who simply identified herself as Dr. Grace, said, “We have seen an increase in patients suffering from heat-related conditions such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.

“In the last week alone, we’ve treated over 50 cases. Regrettably, there have been reports of at least three fatalities linked to severe heat-related ailments,” she said.

A similar report was made at the Kuje General Hospital where a nurse, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that “many people are coming in with symptoms of extreme fatigue and heat illnesses. It’s important for people to be cautious about their health condition during this time.”

In Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, health officials were not forthcoming with the exact figures of those admitted in their hospitals for heat-related ailments.

A senior medical personnel in the employ of the state government said “the hospitals are full of patients whose ailments are heat-induced.”

The temperatures in some of the states range between 33°C and 40°C, but a consultant pathologist at Lagos State University College of Medicine/Teaching Hospital, Professor Francis Faduyile, argued that the temperatures in the country, though high, do not meet the criteria of a heat wave, which typically involves temperatures exceeding 40°C.

In Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the temperature has risen to 40°C while in Abuja, especially in Gwagwalada area council of the nation’s capital, and Dutse in Jigawa State share 39°C respectively.

Faduyile argued that the temperatures in the country, though high, do not meet the criteria of a heat wave, which typically involves temperatures exceeding 40°C.

Faduyile said, “I don’t think what we are seeing in Nigeria is a heat wave. Heat waves cause extreme dehydration, making it dangerous for people to be outdoors. While our dry season brings high temperatures, it does not reach the levels of heat waves seen in other parts of the world.”

Faduyile, who is a past president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), acknowledged that the current heat can lead to serious health complications, including dehydration, respiratory difficulties, and even sudden collapse in severe cases.

Advising Nigerians to take necessary precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses, he warned that extreme heat can contribute to spreading diseases such as meningitis, especially in northern Nigeria.

“Meningitis outbreaks tend to peak during the hottest periods of the dry season. The heat facilitates the transmission of airborne infections, making it easier for diseases to spread,” he added.

Abuja residents in Bwari, Gwagwalada, AMAC, and Kuje area councils are doing their best to cope with unusually high temperatures that have soared to an average of 39°C, compared to the typical 32°C just a month ago.

In Bwari, a resident, Adebayo Daniel said, “The heat has become unbearable. My family and I often sleep outdoors on our terrace to catch any breeze we can find. My wife has been feeling dizzy, and the children are constantly asking for water.”

In Gwagwalada, Fatima Aliyu spoke of similar challenges, “We used to stay indoors more, but it’s too hot now. I’ve started keeping my children at home from school at midday because they complain of headaches and fatigue. Learning under this heat is very difficult.”

 

How to cope with high temperatures

Health and climate experts have advised the public on how to cope with the excessive heat.

“Hydration is critical. People should drink plenty of water and avoid strenuous activities, especially between noon and 4 pm.

“Wearing light clothing and spending time in shaded areas can also help alleviate the risk of heat-related illnesses,” a public health specialist, Dr. Chijioke Nwosu said.

Residents of Ilorin, Kwara State said the excessive heat, coupled with the epileptic power supply, is forcing them to find open spaces in their houses to sleep at night.

However, those who sleep outside the rooms have to contend with mosquito bites unless they sleep under treated nets.

 

Experts Proffer Safety Measures

Three health experts – Oluwasogo Olalubi, a professor of public health at Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete; Dr Mariam Shiru, the president of the Association of Resident Doctors at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), and Prof Sola Afolabi, chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kwara State’s chapter have highlighted the danger that excessive heat poses to the health of Nigerians.

They also spoke about measures to mitigate the effects of excessive heat on people.

Olalubi, who said excessive heat has significant health and environmental impacts, said, “Residents are at risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and heat cramps. These conditions can be severe and, if not addressed promptly, may lead to death.

 

“High temperatures can worsen health conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The heat stress associated with extreme temperatures can lead to dizziness, fainting, and confusion.”

 

Olalubi stated that addressing the effects of excessive heat in Ilorin requires a comprehensive approach, including environmental planning, aesthetic tree planting, public health initiatives, and community engagement to enhance resilience against heat-related challenges.

 

He added: “Tree planting: increasing tree canopy cover can help reduce ambient temperatures in residential areas, providing shade and cooling effects. Research suggests that strategic tree planting is essential to mitigate the urban heat island effect in Ilorin.

 

“Public awareness: Educating residents about the risks of excessive heat and promoting measures such as staying hydrated (drink at least three bottles of 50cl water a day), seeking shade, staying in a well-ventilated, aerated environment and avoiding strenuous activities during peak heat hours are vital. Health experts recommend these precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses,” he said.

 

The president of Associated of Resident Doctors (ARD) at UITH and member of the West Africa College of Surgeons, Dr Mariam Shiru, said excessive heat could have severe consequences on the health and well-being of Nigerians, particularly vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children, and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

 

She listed some of the effects of excessive heat as including heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and respiratory problems, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

 

Shiru further said heat waves can also affect mental health, causing irritability, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, adding that exposure to excessive heat can worsen existing health conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and renal disease due to dehydration.

 

To mitigate the effects of excessive heat, Shiru asked Nigerians to stay indoors during the hottest hours of the day, usually between 11a.m. and 4p.m., use fans, air conditioners, or other cooling devices, drink plenty of water and fluids, and avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks.

 

Shiru also advised residents to always wear light, loose-fitting, and breathable clothing, preferably cotton or linen, during the heat period.

 

She emphasised the importance of checking on the elderly, children, and people with chronic diseases who might be more vulnerable to the heat.

 

On his part, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) chairman in the state, Prof Sola Afolabi, noted that excessive heat can have significant health implications, particularly in a city like Ilorin, where high temperatures can lead to heat-related illnesses.

 

He advised residents to take personal responsibility by adopting preventive measures such as hydration, avoiding direct sunlight, and seeking medical attention when experiencing heat-related symptoms.

 

Afolabi added, “The government and relevant authorities should implement policies such as tree planting for shade, improve urban planning to reduce heat retention, and ensure access to clean drinking water. More public spaces with cooling facilities should also be provided.

 

“By taking proactive steps, the risks associated with excessive heat can be significantly minimised, ensuring better health and overall wellbeing for the people of Ilorin.”

 

In Jigawa State, a senior official in charge of Surveillance and Disease Control at the Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said the hot weather had just begun and had not reached its peak.

 

“For now, there have been no reports of disease outbreaks or surges in any illnesses. Our public healthcare system is operating under normal conditions,” he stated.

 

“Despite the absence of disease outbreaks, during transitional weather periods like this, we typically strengthen our disease surveillance mechanisms to ensure a rapid response to any potential emergencies,” he added.

 

Musa Shehu from Maigatari, a border town between Nigeria and Niger Republic, said the hot weather is part of the normal seasonal transition, noting that the residents expect the temperatures to rise further before the rainy season, which is anticipated to begin between June and July.

 

Musa said, “We are accustomed to this weather, so there is no cause for alarm. As you can see, 99 percent of the adults in this town are observing Ramadan fasting and continuing with their daily activities, including strenuous labour.”

 

However, residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, have taken precautionary measures to protect themselves from the consequences of rising temperatures in the state even as medical experts reveal that illnesses associated with the harsh weather conditions are increasing threefold.

 

Mrs Hauwa Bata, a resident, said due to the hot weather, most people have resorted to wearing light clothes, avoiding clothes that are dark so as not to attract heat, drinking a lot of water, keeping away from sunlight and eating a lot of watermelon.

 

Mrs Bata narrated how her son got dehydrated after he walked in the scorching when her parents did not pick him from school.

 

“He started urinating blood until we rushed him to the hospital where he was later treated,” she said.

 

She went on: “The heat is getting to the extreme. The temperature is now 40 – 42 centigrade as against 25 – 30 centigrade that was obtained prior to this period. But as people who have been in Maiduguri, we try to wear light clothes, not to wear dark colours so as not to attract heat. We also drink a lot of water and try to be away from the sun, and as well take a lot of watermelon since it contains a lot of water.”

 

A medical officer at the department of internal medicine, Borno State Specialist Hospital, Dr. Mohammed Nur Abubakar Mustapha, said during this period of high temperature, there is a threefold increase in heat related illnesses like heat stroke and heat exhaustion, among others.

 

“During this period, we have people trying to come together in a cold place thereby triggering infection of communicable diseases. 95 percent of patients coming in to the hospital are people with renal failure or chronic kidney disease who at times lose their lives due dehydration resulting from the heat wave,” he said.

 

Dr. Mustapha added that the number of deaths recorded in the hospital during this period of heat is threefold compared to what was recorded by the hospital during the harmattan period or prior to the heat period.

 

He urged residents to imbibe take measures such as keeping away from the sun, drinking a lot of water to beat dehydration,  wearing light clothes and leaving windows and doors open for ventilation.

 

Cold Sachet, Bottled Water Vendors in Business Boom

 

Meanwhile, those who trade in ice blocks in Ilorin are doing brisk business from the hot weather.

 

The ice block sellers have become the toast of the sellers of sachet water and soft drinks, knowing full well that their customers prefer cold drinks to quench their thirst, especially at the breaking of fast during the ongoing Ramadan.

 

The sachet water and soft drinks sellers are also making high profits as residents besiege their shops in large numbers, especially in the evenings, to buy cold water and soft drinks.

 

In Kano state, sachet water sellers are witnessing a boom as the demand for the commodity is rising because of the high temperature.

 

The manager of ABS Water Factory, Malam Mohammed Inuwa, said unlike the cold season when the company produces about 4,000 – 20,000 bags daily, it currently produces 10,000 bags due to the ongoing fasting and the harsh weather conditions.

 

He said the production usually increases after the Ramadan period (around April), when the weather is about 40⁰ Centigrade in the state and extremely hot.

 

Sani Baderu, an ice block seller at the Post office area of Maiduguri, said with the heat period coupled with the Muslim fasting period, their members are making good business and smiling home everyday.

 

He said during the harmattan period they were making about N2000 to N3000 on daily bases, but added that during the heat period which coincided with the Ramadan, they are making between N8000 to N10000 sales on daily basis.