Lagos Doctors Urge Free Water Points to Protect Residents from Heatwaves

 

By Atlantic Reports

Doctors Seek Public Water Points to Reduce Heat Risks

The Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr Oluwole Olusanya, made the appeal on Monday during a news conference organised as part of activities marking the Guild’s centenary celebration.

He said practical interventions, including free drinking-water points, could help reduce illness and deaths associated with extreme heat, particularly among vulnerable residents.

Olusanya noted that densely populated cities such as Lagos faced additional heat-related risks because of high temperatures, humidity, traffic congestion and unreliable electricity supply.

He said governments could reduce the health burden of heatwaves by making drinking water more accessible and encouraging preventive measures.

Residents Advised on Heatwave Protection

Olusanya urged residents to take precautions against heat-related illnesses by wearing light, breathable clothing, drinking water regularly and staying in cool, well-ventilated spaces.

He also advised people to limit exposure to direct sunlight, eat balanced meals rich in fruits and vegetables, and get adequate sleep.

Acknowledging electricity supply challenges, he encouraged households to improve cross-ventilation by opening windows where safe and practical, while maintaining regular hydration.

Heat stress can place additional pressure on the body and worsen existing medical conditions. The risk may be particularly significant for older people, children, outdoor workers and people with underlying illnesses.

El Niño Raises Wider Public Health Concerns

Olusanya’s comments come amid concerns about the health effects of extreme weather and changing climate patterns.

El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon characterised by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It can influence weather patterns in different parts of the world, contributing to heat extremes and changes in rainfall.

According to the information presented at the briefing, projections have raised concerns about potential heat-related deaths in Nigeria. However, such estimates depend on the period, assumptions and methodology used and should not be interpreted as confirmed future fatalities.

Beyond extreme heat, changes in rainfall patterns can affect farming, water availability and food prices, placing additional pressure on households.

Heat stress can also worsen underlying conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma and some mental health conditions. It may also increase the risk of accidents and affect the transmission patterns of certain infectious diseases.

Lagos Urged to Maintain Ebola Preparedness

Beyond heat-related risks, Olusanya highlighted the importance of maintaining Lagos State’s preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks following reports of Ebola-related developments in Abuja.

He expressed confidence in the state’s response capacity, citing its experience managing the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

Olusanya said the role played by Lagos health professionals in containing the earlier Ebola outbreak earned international recognition, with some subsequently sharing their expertise with other African countries affected by disease outbreaks.

However, he warned that previous successes should not lead to complacency.

He said sustained investment in personal protective equipment, medical supplies, functional healthcare facilities, staff training and emergency-response systems remained essential to protecting health workers and the public.

“Continuous surveillance, early detection and effective infection-prevention measures are also necessary to contain any potential spread of infectious diseases,” he said.

Medical Guild Calls for Improved Doctors’ Welfare

Olusanya also emphasised the importance of healthcare workers’ welfare in maintaining an effective health system.

He said the Guild was seeking better working conditions and additional support for doctors, including housing assistance, mortgage schemes, car loans and other benefits that reflected the demands of medical practice in Lagos.

He renewed calls for tax concessions and a Lagos-specific salary adjustment to account for the state’s high cost of living, heavy traffic and rising accommodation expenses.

According to him, inadequate remuneration and poor working conditions continue to contribute to the migration of doctors abroad.

Improving staff welfare, he argued, was important not only for retaining experienced professionals but also for ensuring that residents could access reliable healthcare services.

AI and Digital Systems Seen as Healthcare Priorities

Looking ahead, Olusanya identified artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health systems as potential tools for improving healthcare delivery.

He said appropriate AI applications could reduce administrative workloads and improve efficiency, allowing healthcare professionals to focus more attention on patient care.

He also proposed a digital bed-space coordination network that would help emergency services identify hospitals with available capacity and direct patients to appropriate facilities.

Such a system, he said, could reduce delays in emergency treatment by improving coordination between healthcare facilities.

However, the benefits would depend on reliable infrastructure, accurate real-time information, adequate staffing and appropriate safeguards for patient data.

Prevention and Preparedness Remain Central

The Guild reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Lagos State Government and residents to build a safer and healthier state.

Its recommendations span immediate public health measures, including access to drinking water during extreme heat, and longer-term priorities such as infectious disease surveillance, improved working conditions for doctors and digital health infrastructure.

For residents, accessible drinking water and practical heat-safety guidance could help reduce preventable illness. For the health system, sustained investment in staff, facilities and emergency coordination will remain essential to responding to both routine medical needs and public health emergencies.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.