Doctors in Enugu and Kwara urge Nigerians to drink more water as heatwave bites
- Health officials in Enugu and Kwara are advising residents to drink more water and avoid the sun during the current heatwave.
- A doctor in Enugu says dark clothes trap heat, and residents should slow down outdoor work and rest in shade.
- Kwara's hospitals board says it is strengthening care and warns of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke signs.
As hot weather grips parts of Nigeria, health officials in Enugu and Kwara are telling residents to drink more water, stay out of the sun during the hottest hours and watch for signs of heat illness.
In Enugu, a doctor at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Ndibuagu, advised people to avoid dark clothing such as black because it absorbs heat. He spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.
He said people should rest under shade or in air-conditioned rooms, cut down on walking or farming under the sun, and drink plenty of water afterwards to avoid fainting or collapsing from exhaustion.
"Ordinarily, you are supposed to take about three litres of water daily, but now you should increase the quantity," he said, adding that people should avoid places where they sweat excessively.
What residents in Enugu say
NAN reported that residents in Enugu are struggling with the heat and the cost of coping with it. They complained of buying water more often, high energy costs from unstable power supply, and spending on rechargeable fans.
Bridget Onyia, who lives in Obiagu, said the heat was severe, especially with erratic electricity. She said some residents now sleep outside their homes or on roof slabs to get fresh air.
John Ekwueme of Ugwuaji said the heat forced him to buy a rechargeable fan for his family. He said the electricity band system (A, B and C) is not working for many people, and some have no power at all to ease the heat.
Esther Agbo, a nurse, said poor water supply in Enugu metropolis is making things harder for low-income earners. Victoria Okoroafor, a retired nurse, said heatwaves are now a reality in Nigeria because of global warming, and urged the government to improve electricity supply.
She also advised people to keep windows open for fresh air and to live in homes that allow natural breeze.
Kwara warns of heatstroke
In Kwara, the state government urged residents to drink enough water, avoid long exposure to direct sunlight and reduce strenuous outdoor activity.
The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Hospitals Management Board, Dr Abdulraheem Malik, told Punch Online on Sunday that the board is strengthening healthcare services and promoting preventive health practices to reduce dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
He advised light, breathable clothing, avoiding outdoor activity during the hottest hours, and staying in shaded or well-ventilated places.
Malik listed early warning signs: dehydration can show as excessive thirst, dry mouth, dark urine and dizziness. Heat exhaustion can cause heavy sweating, headaches, muscle cramps, nausea and weakness. Confusion, seizures, collapse or loss of consciousness may point to heatstroke, which needs emergency medical attention.
He named children, older people, pregnant women, outdoor workers and people with underlying health conditions as most at risk, and asked families and caregivers to make sure they have water and cooler, well-ventilated spaces.
The board also called for collaboration between government agencies, local authorities and community groups to improve access to safe drinking water and shaded spaces, especially in vulnerable communities.
What happens next
Both officials stressed prevention and quick medical attention when symptoms appear. Kwara said it will keep using its hospitals for public health education, while Enugu residents are being urged to prepare their homes for the heat.
