THE nexus between climate change and health in Sub-Saharan Africa and Zimbabwe is a critical issue due to the region and country’s current and historical vulnerability to climate impacts, like the ensuing El Niño  phenomenon and its existing health challenges.

Climate change, it is emerging exacerbates various health risks and burdens, affecting both communicable and non-communicable diseases. 

The recent spikes in temperatures across the country have resulted in the documented death of around 10 infants from hot car suffocation; a statistic, which by comparison is way above the global average.

In addition, El Niño  related challenges are threatening the very foundation of subsistence farming households’ food systems and by extension their food and nutrition security.

Climate change and health as a topic for discussion is an emerging dialogue, which requires our urgent attention. It can be argued that this has been one of the driest stretches in Zimbabwe due to the El Niño-induced drought comparable to the year 1992, which also saw an acute drought kick in.

This article seeks to explore the dry spell, high temperature and low rainfall season’s impact on public health. It can be argued that the following challenges have already been felt across the country and in neighbouring countries, like Zambia.

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Vector-borne diseases

According to the World Health Organisation, climate change influences the distribution and transmission patterns of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria. Zimbabwe has been spared this and not seen a high number of malaria cases.

In this period, it is pivotal for development practitioners and relevant authorities to strategise a clear early warning and response strategy to cope with present and future climate related health concerns.

The current El Niño  dry spell is connected to a generally declining climate in Zimbabwe it is a fact that the past 5 years have seen a related steady decline in rainfall, rising temperatures and ecosystem decline.

It is, therefore, pivotal to rethink the National Climate Policy and adapt it to the emerging climate needs and realities of the Zimbabwean population with a clear focus on health issues.

Waterborne diseases

It is evident that the impacts of the dry spell have negatively impacted water availability, quality, and sanitation and this leads to an increased risk of waterborne diseases. The El Niño  related erratic rainfall patterns, droughts, and floods, such as the ones experienced in Budiriro affect access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities.

This situation can lead to the spread of diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, and typhoid, which are already major health concerns in the country and have claimed thousands of lives over the past decade.

This view is supported by the Africa Centre for Disease Control, which has tied recent cholera outbreaks to climate change. It can be argued that in the past three months, cases of typhoid and cholera have spiked in Harare’s high-density suburbs with the Ministry of Health and Childcare issuing alerts, advisory and rolling out vaccination programmes in areas like Kambuzuma and Kuwadzana.

The responsiveness can only be as good as the anticipatory and preparedness planning for such emergencies. 

It is imperative to have a revised and all-encompassing climate policy, which incorporates a public health preparedness and response plan premised on increased community capacity and institutional collaboration informed by previous experiences and emerging research on climate change and its implications on public health.

Food security and malnutrition

Agricultural productivity, which has direct implications on food and nutrition security is not at its best this year. The rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and general extreme weather events have disrupted potential crop yield projections and rural livestock production systems.

The Zimbabwean government has communicated that it anticipates food shortages and has initiated coping measures, which include waiving import bans for critical produce, such as maize, amongst other promised response actions.

The public health concern at hand is malnutrition amongst vulnerable populations in low – income and rural households who at present are facing an almost 100% increase in maize prices and struggling field crops.

Climate change clearly is holding public health hostage and the need for a wholistic climate justice sensitive approach in government response activities cannot be overemphasised. The creation of adequate social safety nets backed by climate finances, such as carbon credits cannot be ruled out.

Climate emergencies require the attention of tailor-made climate sensitive finance programmes that take into consideration the economic, ecological, and social realities of the affected populations!

Heat-related illnesses

Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing increasing temperatures, which can lead to heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke, dehydration, and cardiovascular problems. Zimbabwe’s urban areas, with their heat-island effect and limited access to cooling infrastructure, are particularly vulnerable.

Climate change has in the past weeks exacerbated the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, posing a significant health threat in the country. I stand to be corrected on turning some of these lemons into lemonade.

The prolonged sun exposure is a huge opportunity for solar power and the clean energy transition.

It is essential that as the government focuses on infrastructure development as outlined in the National Development Strategy One and Two blueprints, it prioritises cooling infrastructure in public spaces and buildings and accelerates innovations, business support for emerging cooling technologies and simple nature-based solutions, such as planting more trees and plants in urban settings.

The biggest advantage at hand for developing economies is the untapped potential to develop in an eco–friendly way given the lessons being learnt from the developed northern economies.

Respiratory, cardiovascular diseases

Climate change influences air quality through factors like increased air pollution, dust storms, and wildfires.

Exposure to air pollutants and fine particulate matter can exacerbate respiratory conditions, such as asthma and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Zimbabwe’s growing urbanisation, industrialisation, and high deforestation rates due to artisanal mining, housing development pose the threat of high dust concentration in the atmosphere, and this often leads to increases in cases of tuberculosis, amongst other challenges connected to air pollution.

Mental health, psychosocial impacts

Climate change-related events, such prolonged heatwaves have profound psychological and social impacts. The resultant loss of livelihoods, food insecurity, forced migration, and conflicts over resources can contribute to stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders in both urban and rural areas.

For most subsistence and commercial farmers, the sight of struggling crops is a big stress factor. 

These mental health challenges are often exacerbated by limited access to mental healthcare services in the developing world and Zimbabwe is no exception. It is crucial to have a farmers’ only friendship bench!

Addressing the climate-health nexus in developing economies like Zimbabwe requires a multi-sectoral approach that integrates climate change adaptation and mitigation measures with public health interventions.

This includes strengthening healthcare systems, improving early warning systems for climate-related diseases, enhancing critical water and sanitation infrastructure, promoting sustainable agriculture, and investing in climate-resilient healthcare facilities.

Additionally, raising awareness, providing heightened education, and building capacity among healthcare professionals and communities are crucial for effective climate change adaptation and protecting public health in our country.

Enabling international cooperation and support are vital for building resilience and implementing sustainable solutions to address the climate-health challenges we face.

  • Mafa is an agricultural economist, co-founder Rima Afrika Trust Zimbabwe and climate technology and finance lead at Food Justice Network. These weekly New Perspectives articles, published in the Zimbabwe Independent, are coordinated by Lovemore Kadenge, an independent consultant, managing consultant of Zawale Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, past president of the Zimbabwe Economics Society and past president of the Chartered Governance & Accountancy Institute in Zimbabwe. — kadenge.zes@gmail.com or +263 772 382 852.
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