Opinion

Climate Change’s Stealthy Impact on Health-Faith John

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Faith John

<p><&excl;-- BEGIN THEIA POST SLIDER --><&sol;p>&NewLine;<&excl;-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v&period; 2&period;0&period;95 -->&NewLine;<div class&equals;"quads-location quads-ad4" id&equals;"quads-ad4" style&equals;"float&colon;none&semi;margin&colon;0px&semi;">&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>&nbsp&semi;<&sol;p><div class&equals;"8Oq0WoHK" style&equals;"clear&colon;both&semi;float&colon;left&semi;width&colon;100&percnt;&semi;margin&colon;0 0 20px 0&semi;"><script async src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;pagead2&period;googlesyndication&period;com&sol;pagead&sol;js&sol;adsbygoogle&period;js"><&sol;script> &NewLine;<&excl;-- TV --> &NewLine;<ins class&equals;"adsbygoogle" &NewLine; style&equals;"display&colon;block" &NewLine; data-ad-client&equals;"ca-pub-4403533287178375" &NewLine; data-ad-slot&equals;"4399361195" &NewLine; data-ad-format&equals;"auto" &NewLine; data-full-width-responsive&equals;"true"><&sol;ins> &NewLine;<script> &NewLine; &lpar;adsbygoogle &equals; window&period;adsbygoogle &vert;&vert; &lbrack;&rsqb;&rpar;&period;push&lpar;&lbrace;&rcub;&rpar;&semi; &NewLine;<&sol;script><&sol;div>&NewLine;<p>Maiduguri&comma; the heart of Nigeria&&num;8217&semi;s Borno State&comma; is silently grappling with an adversary that&&num;8217&semi;s affecting more than just the environment – climate change&period; The rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns might not scream catastrophe&comma; but their toll on public health is undeniable&period;<&sol;p><div class&equals;"4gQVf5QU" style&equals;"clear&colon;both&semi;float&colon;left&semi;width&colon;100&percnt;&semi;margin&colon;0 0 20px 0&semi;"><script async src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;pagead2&period;googlesyndication&period;com&sol;pagead&sol;js&sol;adsbygoogle&period;js"><&sol;script> &NewLine;<&excl;-- TV --> &NewLine;<ins class&equals;"adsbygoogle" &NewLine; style&equals;"display&colon;block" &NewLine; data-ad-client&equals;"ca-pub-4403533287178375" &NewLine; data-ad-slot&equals;"4399361195" &NewLine; data-ad-format&equals;"auto" &NewLine; data-full-width-responsive&equals;"true"><&sol;ins> &NewLine;<script> &NewLine; &lpar;adsbygoogle &equals; window&period;adsbygoogle &vert;&vert; &lbrack;&rsqb;&rpar;&period;push&lpar;&lbrace;&rcub;&rpar;&semi; &NewLine;<&sol;script><&sol;div>&NewLine;<p>The increasingly hot days are more than just discomfort&period; They bring a surge in heat-related illnesses&comma; from heat exhaustion to heatstroke&period; Vulnerable populations&comma; including children and the elderly&comma; bear the brunt of these health risks&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Changing climate patterns influence the spread of diseases&period; The city has seen an uptick in diseases like malaria and dengue&comma; as rising temperatures create favorable conditions for disease-carrying vectors&period;<br &sol;>&NewLine;Water scarcity resulting from droughts and shifting rainfall patterns leads to unhygienic water sources and a higher risk of waterborne diseases&comma; jeopardizing public health&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Another risk faced is air pollution from extended droughts which leads to respiratory issues&comma; affecting both children and adults&period; Dust and air quality pose a growing threat&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<&excl;-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v&period; 2&period;0&period;95 -->&NewLine;<div class&equals;"quads-location quads-ad1" id&equals;"quads-ad1" style&equals;"float&colon;none&semi;margin&colon;0px&semi;">&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;<div class&equals;"vz6993Fm" style&equals;"clear&colon;both&semi;float&colon;left&semi;width&colon;100&percnt;&semi;margin&colon;0 0 20px 0&semi;"><script async src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;pagead2&period;googlesyndication&period;com&sol;pagead&sol;js&sol;adsbygoogle&period;js"><&sol;script> &NewLine;<ins class&equals;"adsbygoogle" &NewLine; style&equals;"display&colon;block&semi; text-align&colon;center&semi;" &NewLine; data-ad-layout&equals;"in-article" &NewLine; data-ad-format&equals;"fluid" &NewLine; data-ad-client&equals;"ca-pub-4403533287178375" &NewLine; data-ad-slot&equals;"6550225277"><&sol;ins> &NewLine;<script> &NewLine; &lpar;adsbygoogle &equals; window&period;adsbygoogle &vert;&vert; &lbrack;&rsqb;&rpar;&period;push&lpar;&lbrace;&rcub;&rpar;&semi; &NewLine;<&sol;script><&sol;div>&NewLine;<p>For the past few weeks&comma; Maiduguri have experienced haze weather known as harmattan haze during the season typically between November and February&period; Harmattan haze is caused by the movement of dry&comma; dusty air from the Sahara Desert&period; This haze can have several effects on health&period;<br &sol;>&NewLine;Respiratory Issues&colon; The fine dust particles in the haze can irritate the respiratory system&comma; leading to symptoms such as coughing&comma; sneezing&comma; and worsening of preexisting respiratory conditions like asthma or bronchitis&period;<br &sol;>&NewLine;The haze can reduce visibility&comma; making travel and outdoor activities more challenging and potentially increasing the risk of accidents&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<&excl;-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v&period; 2&period;0&period;95 -->&NewLine;<div class&equals;"quads-location quads-ad4" id&equals;"quads-ad4" style&equals;"float&colon;none&semi;margin&colon;0px&semi;">&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Dust particles in the air can cause skin dryness and irritation&period; Additionally&comma; they may lead to eye irritation&comma; including redness and discomfort&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Increased Vulnerability to Infections&colon; Prolonged exposure to haze can weaken the body&&num;8217&semi;s natural defense mechanisms&comma; potentially increasing susceptibility to respiratory infections&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>To mitigate the health effects of Maiduguri&&num;8217&semi;s harmattan haze&comma; individuals can take precautions such as staying indoors during peak haze hours&comma; using air purifiers&comma; wearing masks&comma; and staying hydrated to help soothe irritated respiratory passages&period; It&&num;8217&semi;s important for local authorities to issue health advisories and take measures to reduce the impact of haze on the population&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The health implications of climate change in Maiduguri are crystal clear&period; Urgent measures are required to protect the health of the city&&num;8217&semi;s residents&period; We urge the government to invest in healthcare infrastructure&comma; public awareness campaigns&comma; and sustainable practices to mitigate climate change&&num;8217&semi;s impact on health&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Maiduguri&&num;8217&semi;s fight against climate change is more than an environmental struggle&semi; it&&num;8217&semi;s a battle for the health and well-being of its people&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Faith John<br &sol;>&NewLine;University of Maiduguri<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><&excl;-- END THEIA POST SLIDER -->&NewLine;<&excl;-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v&period; 2&period;0&period;95 -->&NewLine;<div class&equals;"quads-location quads-ad3" id&equals;"quads-ad3" style&equals;"float&colon;none&semi;margin&colon;0px&semi;">&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<script async src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;pagead2&period;googlesyndication&period;com&sol;pagead&sol;js&sol;adsbygoogle&period;js"><&sol;script> &NewLine;<ins class&equals;"adsbygoogle" &NewLine; style&equals;"display&colon;block" &NewLine; data-ad-format&equals;"autorelaxed" &NewLine; data-ad-client&equals;"ca-pub-4403533287178375" &NewLine; data-ad-slot&equals;"1004305389"><&sol;ins> &NewLine;<script> &NewLine; &lpar;adsbygoogle &equals; window&period;adsbygoogle &vert;&vert; &lbrack;&rsqb;&rpar;&period;push&lpar;&lbrace;&rcub;&rpar;&semi; &NewLine;<&sol;script>&NewLine;<&excl;-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v&period; 2&period;0&period;95 -->&NewLine;<div class&equals;"quads-location quads-ad5" id&equals;"quads-ad5" style&equals;"float&colon;none&semi;margin&colon;0px&semi;">&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;

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