Children in West and Central Africa face heightened health risks due to increasing extreme heat, a UNICEF report revealed on Wednesday. The report highlights how heatwaves have more than quadrupled since the 1960s.
Earlier this year, West Africa endured a severe heatwave, causing a notable rise in fatalities. In Mali, a hospital recorded 102 deaths in the first four days of April, a sharp increase from last year’s April total of 130 deaths.
Data on how many deaths were directly linked to the heat is restricted by local regulations. These restrictions are imposed by Mali’s military rulers, complicating the assessment of heat-related fatalities.
Extreme heat poses serious health threats, especially for children and pregnant women, increasing risks of stillbirths, low birth weight, and preterm births. High temperatures also make children more vulnerable to chronic and infectious diseases.
Central Africa is also facing an mpox outbreak, affecting children disproportionately. Nearly 70% of cases in Congo involve children under 15, with 85% of deaths in this age group. The World Health Organization has declared this outbreak a global emergency.
