Heat Health Action Guidelines for South Africa

Caradee Wright, South Africa, South African Medical Research Council
In South Africa, the National Committee on Climate Change and Health is addressing heat-related health threats across the country to mitigate risks and promote awareness and action. Their policy objective is to establish a National Heat Health Action Plan involving key stakeholders and research-based evidence, with a focus on healthcare settings. The team consists of researchers from the Climate Change and Health Research Programme at the South African Medical Research Council, along with governmental bodies, NGOs, and others. Collaboratively, they designed a Heat-health
vulnerability assessment tool for small towns, targeting vulnerable spaces like primary healthcare waiting rooms. The assessment in Limpopo revealed temperatures exceeding 40 degrees C in such settings where mothers and babies wait for medical appointments. Educational materials were co-created, including posters, flyers and videos, to guide keeping infants and the elderly cool during extreme heat. Ongoing collaboration between researchers, government officials, policy-makers, practitioners and communities is driving this initiative. The outcomes of their research will support the Climate Change and Human Health Adaptation Plan 2023-2027.