By Simba Matake
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has urged Zimbabweans to take precautions against extreme heat, warning that prolonged exposure to high temperatures could result in dehydration, heat exhaustion and potentially fatal heatstroke.
In a public health advisory, the Ministry said high temperatures, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and strenuous physical activity could overwhelm the body’s ability to regulate its temperature, putting lives at risk.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care advises members of the public to take precautions against extreme heat during the current hot period,” the Ministry said.
The warning comes amid projections of warmer-than-normal temperatures and below-normal rainfall during the 2026/2027 agricultural season, with El Niño conditions potentially increasing heat exposure and water stress.
The Ministry identified children, older persons, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, persons with disabilities and outdoor workers, including farmers, construction workers and vendors, as particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.
To reduce the risks, the Ministry urged the public to drink safe water regularly, even when they were not thirsty, limit outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day and seek shade or well-ventilated places.
It also recommended wearing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, using hats or umbrellas for sun protection and taking regular breaks when working outdoors.
Employers were urged to provide outdoor workers with drinking water, shaded resting areas and regular breaks to minimise exposure to excessive heat.
The Ministry further called on families and communities to regularly check on children, older persons and people living with chronic illnesses.
It warned that children should never be left unattended in parked vehicles, even for short periods, due to the danger of rapidly rising temperatures inside vehicles.
The advisory highlighted heavy sweating, intense thirst, headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting and muscle cramps as warning signs of heat exhaustion.
Members of the public were advised to move affected persons to cool places, loosen their clothing, cool their bodies using water and fanning, and provide drinking water where they were fully alert and able to swallow safely.
However, the Ministry stressed that heatstroke was a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.
“Confusion, unusual behaviour, seizures, collapse or loss of consciousness, particularly following exposure to excessive heat,” are among the warning signs of heatstroke, the Ministry said.
It urged anyone suspecting heatstroke to seek emergency medical assistance immediately, move the affected person to a cool, shaded or well-ventilated place and begin rapid cooling using cold water, wet cloths and fanning.
The Ministry said cooling should continue while awaiting medical assistance, adding that cold-water immersion could be used where feasible and safe.
It cautioned against giving fluids to anyone who was confused, unconscious or unable to swallow safely, and warned that paracetamol or aspirin should not be administered to treat heatstroke.
The Ministry also called on the media, schools, employers, local authorities, community leaders and health workers to disseminate public health messages and promote practical measures to prevent heat-related illnesses.
Members of the public were encouraged to follow weather updates and official health advisories from relevant authorities.
“Prevent heat exposure. Stay hydrated. Recognise the warning signs. Cool rapidly and seek medical help without delay,” the Ministry said.