As the dry season approaches, a vulnerable group, pregnant women, is set to face a fresh round of discomfort due to excessive heat. Heatwaves attributed to climate change are expected to become more rampant this season. This calls for concerted efforts from both government and individuals, writes Martin Metieh.
Maryam Bello, a resident of Azare in Bauchi State, has been pregnant three times, but none of the experiences has been easy for her.
"Pregnancy always comes with problems for me. Even before it becomes one month old, I already have complications. It's usually headaches, and my body becomes very hot. I struggle a lot," she said.
She explained that intense heat only worsens her condition. "I wouldn't be able to sit in the room. When I go outside, it wouldn't take long before I become restless again because of the discomfort from the heat."
She often has to spend time in the open air, even at night, to cope with the heat, exposing herself to mosquito bites and malaria.
"The pregnancy can sometimes be different. Sometimes I vomit for the first two months, sometimes three months, sometimes even up to five months. And I always have this fever that makes everywhere hot for me. Many times, I can't sleep or spend the night in the room. I sleep outside in the compound, and the mosquitoes always disturb me," she said.
Unsurprisingly, she often ends up dealing with anti-malaria drugs, which she said can cause further complications.
"Because of the mosquitoes, I always end up at the hospital. The drugs they give me also give me problems. When I take them, they make me nauseous," she added.
"This is how I usually struggle with pregnancy until there is a little relief towards the end."
While labour is sometimes manageable, Maryam recalled a particularly harrowing experience.
"There was a time I spent three days in labour at the hospital because of the fever I had. Even after I gave birth during that pregnancy, I was still bleeding. On the day I was to be discharged, I fainted, and they had to keep me in the hospital for two more days."
These are some of the challenges Maryam faces whenever she is pregnant amid sweltering weather. And she is not alone.
Nigerian Tribune met another Bauchi State resident, Humaira Musa, who also shared her experience.
"I struggle a lot. As you can see, I'm currently pregnant. The weather is becoming cooler now, but a while back it was very hot and I suffered a lot. I never knew it was like this," she said.
"Every time I have a fever or a headache, even when my blood pressure goes up, I go to the hospital and they just tell me it's the pregnancy."
Humaira also recounted a distressing experience involving a friend. "There was a friend we visited when she was about to give birth to her second child. What I saw scared me. I really felt pity for her."
At times, the fear overwhelms her. "Sometimes I even feel like I may not be able to carry the pregnancy to the end."
For Hauwa Inuwa, another resident of Azare, her mental health suffers because of the heat during pregnancy.
She said that during periods of high temperature, pregnancy becomes very difficult for her because the heat makes her feel uneasy.
"I have to come out into the open compound, spread a mat, and lie down there. When there is public power supply, I keep the fan on all the time. Many times, I take showers at intervals, but they hardly bring relief.
Daily chores become a challenge. "When I have housework to do, I realise I can't focus because of the heat," she said, adding that she often relies on neighbours for help because "the heat is just too much."
Rising temperatures and climate change
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) stated in a November 6 press release that 2025 is set to be either the second or third warmest year on record, continuing an alarming warming trend.
"The past 11 years, from 2015 to 2025, will individually have been the eleven warmest years in the 176-year observational record," the WMO said.
Linking rising temperatures to greenhouse gas emissions, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo noted: "This unprecedented streak of high temperatures, combined with last year's record increase in greenhouse gas levels, makes it clear that it will be virtually impossible to limit global warming to 1.5°C in the next few years without temporarily overshooting this target."
Earlier this year, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) predicted a prolonged heatwave across the country, warning that extreme heat could cause dehydration, heat-related illnesses and respiratory problems.
Temperatures were forecast to reach as high as 44°C in northern Nigeria, while even the coolest parts of the south were expected to record temperatures in the mid-30s Celsius.
In March 2024, scientists with World Weather Attribution (WWA) said such heatwaves had been made ten times more likely by human-induced climate change, noting that West Africa could experience similar heatwaves about once every two years.
The mid-February heatwave across West Africa was further intensified by high humidity, making temperatures of around 40°C feel closer to 50°C. Experts warn that such conditions significantly heighten health risks for vulnerable groups, including pregnant women.
What pregnant women face
A research titled "Associations between high temperatures in pregnancy and risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirths" by Matthew Francis Chersich et al. found that for every 1°C rise in temperature, preterm birth rates increase by about five per cent.
Similarly, a 2021 global study by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, published in Environment International, linked extreme heat to higher rates of stillbirths and preterm births in low-income countries. The study is considered the first to establish this relationship on a global scale.
Another study, "Increasing global temperatures threaten gains in maternal and newborn health in Africa," noted that many African women have little or no protection from extreme heat during pregnancy. Rapid urbanisation has pushed many into informal settlements -- urban heat islands where temperatures are several degrees higher.
"Health facilities, poorly built brick dwellings, and informal housing are frequently 4°C-6°C warmer indoors than outdoors," the study stated, adding that access to potable water remains limited in many rural areas.
Speaking on heat-related risks with Nigerian Tribune, Dr Taiwo Hammed, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Ibadan, said dehydration leading to dizziness and fatigue is common among pregnant women during heatwaves.
"There is also cardiovascular strain, which increases the risk of hypertension and diabetes, as well as heatstroke," he said.
"Whatever affects a pregnant woman affects the foetus," Hammed added, noting risks such as low birth weight, foetal distress and long-term effects associated with preterm birth.
Limited public health resources
Despite being among the regions hardest hit by climate change, African countries have some of the weakest adaptive capacities. A study titled "Climate Change and Health Preparedness in Africa" identified significant gaps in health preparedness across six countries, including Nigeria.
A not-for-profit health communication and advocacy organisation, Nigeria Health Watch notes that the country's maternal mortality ratio remains extremely high -- estimated at between 993 and 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births -- meaning additional stressors like heat could have disproportionate effects.
A report by Climate Central found that between 2020 and 2024, climate change accounted for 68 per cent of pregnancy heat-risk days in Nigeria, adding an average of 21 extra high-risk heat days per year.
Finding solutions
In a country where governance often feels distant, Nigerians are accustomed to finding solutions for themselves. Asked about solutions, Dr Hammed emphasised what individuals can do.
"As we approach the dry season, pregnant women can use air-conditioners or fans, including rechargeable ones. They should wear light clothing, drink more water to prevent dehydration, avoid strenuous activities, and limit exposure to the sun," he said.
He also suggested indoor plants to help reduce room temperatures and taking cold showers frequently.
On how pregnant women in water-scarce areas could cope, Dr Hammed said providing potable water remains the responsibility of government. This is an area where governments at various levels have failed.
In 2018, the Federal Government declared a state of emergency in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector, launching a National Action Plan to end open defecation by 2025.
Seven years later, the crisis persists, with about 60 million Nigerians lacking access to clean water and roughly 80 million without adequate sanitation.
Government responsibility inevitable
Despite their shortcomings, experts say government intervention is unavoidable. At the 10th edition of The Future of Health Conference, organised by Nigeria Health Watch and supported by MSD for Mothers, panellists emphasised the need to implement existing national policies, including the National Climate Change Policy and the National Safe Motherhood Strategy.
They also called for better use of climate data in health planning and the provision of mental health support for pregnant women in climate-affected areas.
Better housing too
A report by Salim Sani Haladu, titled "Rising Heat Waves in Northern Nigeria: Public Health Implications and Sustainable Mitigation Strategies," identified the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect as a key contributor to worsening heatwaves.
UHI occurs when urban materials trap heat and release it slowly into the environment, worsening thermal stress during regional heatwaves.
According to the report, the widespread use of corrugated iron roofing in northern Nigeria significantly increases indoor temperatures, sometimes reaching as high as 45°C, making indoor spaces dangerously hot.
"Addressing localised challenges like UHI is as important as reducing global emissions," Haladu noted.
Dr Hammed agreed, calling for afforestation and the integration of heat-mitigation measures into housing design.
"There should be proper cross-ventilation, and environmental health officers and town planners must be engaged before building plans are approved," he said.
As heatwaves become more frequent, health experts warn that protecting pregnant women from extreme heat is no longer optional but a public health necessity.