By Onche Odeh
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) and climate monitoring bodies across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have issued urgent public health warnings as an intensifying El Niño event threatens severe heatwaves and dry spells across the region.
Confronted with rapidly rising ocean temperatures in the Pacific, meteorological agencies are warning that the extreme heat could trigger widespread heat stress, water shortages, and agricultural disruptions.
Speaking during a regional climate briefing, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi noted that the multi-country weather pattern threatens development gains and community health across central and southern Africa.
Over 60 million people across southern Africa face heightened risks from prolonged high temperatures, with vulnerable populations in informal settlements and rural farming communities bearing the heaviest burden.
The regional climate body is also calling on African health ministries and disaster management agencies to establish active heat-health surveillance systems and expand public awareness campaigns on heatstroke prevention nationwide.
