“The profound impact of climate change on people with albinism is one of the most overlooked aspects of the issue. In Africa alone, it is estimated that people with albinism are up to 1000 times more likely to develop skin cancer than those without, with many dying by the age of 40,” said Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, the Independent Expert on Albinism.
Amidst the backdrop of escalating global temperatures and the surge in heatwaves across Africa, individuals like Joy Odigie, a Nigerian journalist living with albinism, offer a poignant insight. According to Joy, venturing out in the sun during intense heat is not just inconvenient but also poses significant challenges, with umbrellas and sunscreens providing only partial relief.
Joy sheds light on the financial burden faced by those living with albinism as sunscreen prices soar and availability remains inconsistent, particularly in rural areas. This raises pertinent questions about the survival strategies of individuals unable to afford these essential items.
“Sunscreen for people living with albinism is not always available. I saw one in the market for 49,000 naira (40$) and you can only use it for a week. People in rural communities’ struggle.”
“There are no support systems; there are only individual measures and these materials are not cheap.” The question is: how do individuals who cannot afford these items survive?
Joy highlights the plight of those reliant on outdoor activities, detailing the hurdles in transportation access and enduring prolonged sun exposure.
According to a UN expert file:///UN Expert/ Climate Change Puts People with Albinism at Risk, climate change is having a dangerous impact on people with albinism worldwide, contributing to high rates of skin cancer deaths in some regions.
“The profound impact of climate change on people with albinism is one of the most overlooked aspects of the issue. In Africa alone, it is estimated that people with albinism are up to 1000 times more likely to develop skin cancer than those without, with many dying by the age of 40,” said Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, the Independent Expert on Albinism.
In her report to the General Assembly, the expert said the situation was so dire that she had been campaigning tirelessly for sunscreen to be made freely available to people with albinism. “Sunscreen is not a cosmetic product for people with albinism; it is a life-saving medical product that can prolong and improve the quality of life for many who don’t have the means to afford it,” she said.
“This is now more urgent than ever as our climate warms and UV radiation increases, making sun exposure an extremely dangerous hazard for people with albinism, especially in hot tropical climates,” she said.
People with albinism are not only susceptible to skin cancer, but they also have visual impairments and are therefore considered to have disabilities.
She noted that climate disasters have led to people with albinism losing their livelihoods, working longer hours in the sun to cope with food shortages, and migrating to find climates more suited to their condition.
Idowu Abdullah, a medical doctor, further underscores the grave health risks associated with heat waves, including dehydration, heat exhaustion, and potentially fatal heat stroke.
HEATWAVE IN WEST AFRICA – NEW STUDY
According to World Weather Attribution https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/dangerous-humid-heat-in-southern-west-africa In February 2024, West Africa was hit by an unusually intense, humid heatwave, with temperatures not normally seen until March or April.
The most severe heat occurred from February 11–15, with temperatures above 40°C. In Nigeria, doctors reported an increase in patients presenting for heat-related illnesses; people complained of poor sleep due to hot nights; and the National Meteorological Agency issued several warnings about the heat.
Human-caused climate change made the humid heatwave in southern West Africa during February ten times more likely.The study also found that if humans do not rapidly move away from fossil fuels, causing global warming to rise to 2°C above preindustrial levels, West Africa will experience similar heatwaves about once every two years.
According to Wasiu Adeniyi Ibrahim, Head, Central Forecast Office, NiMet, Abuja, Nigeria, the February heatwave happened early in the year, meaning many people wouldn’t have been acclimatised to the heat.
“It is clear climate change is bringing more and more dangerously hot days to West Africa.“With every fraction of a degree of global warming, heatwaves like the one we experienced in February in West Africa will become even hotter.”
In Nigeria, doctors reported an increase in patients presenting for heat-related illness, people complained of poor sleep due to hot nights and
The National Meteorological Agency issued several warnings about the heat. In Ghana, the national meteorological agency also warned people to prepare for dangerous temperatures.
Climate change, caused by burning fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal, and deforestation, has made heatwaves more frequent, longer, and hotter around the world. To quantify the effect of climate change on the hot and humid temperatures in West Africa, scientists analysed observed weather data and climate models to compare how the event has changed between
today’s climate, with approximately 1.2°C of global warming, and the cooler pre-industrial climate, using peer-reviewed methods.
The analysis looked at the maximum five-day heat index in a region of southern West Africa where the heat was most extreme, including Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and small parts of Guinea and Cameroon. The heat index, also known as apparent temperature, is a measure that combines temperature and humidity to reflect how heat feels to the human body because higher levels of humidity make it harder for humans to cool down.
While the average air temperature in West Africa was above 36°C, the heat index for the same period was about 50°C, reflecting how a combination of humidity and high temperatures caused dangerous conditions.
The researchers found that climate change made the heatwave as measured by the heat index about 4°C hotter and ten times more likely. Before humans started burning fossil fuels, similar heatwaves used to be rare events, occurring less than once every 100 years. However, in today’s climate, with 1.2°C of warming, similar humid heatwaves occur about once every 10 years.
According to the report, If the world does not move away from fossil fuels and rapidly reduce emissions to net zero, West Africa will experience even hotter and more frequent humid heatwaves. If global warming reaches 2°C, as is expected to occur in the 2040s or 2050s unless emissions are rapidly halted, similar events will occur about once every two years and will become a further 1.2-3.4°C hotter.
Although the heatwave potentially affected millions across the nine countries, there were few heat-related impacts reported by the media and government organizations which reflects the need to improve awareness of dangerous heat and the detection of heat impacts.
ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHALLENGES
To address the challenges posed by hot weather and climate change, proactive measures must be implemented at local, national, and global levels. This includes investing in resilient infrastructure, enhancing early warning systems for extreme weather events, promoting sustainable land management practices, and transitioning towards renewable energy sources to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
While meteorological organizations in Nigeria and Ghana issued heat warnings, several other countries in the region lack comprehensive heat action plans, accentuating the urgent need for proactive measures.
According to the report, major investment is needed in Africa to build resilience to dangerous heat. The UN https://www.unep.org/resources/adaptation-gap-report-2023 has estimated that the cost of adaptation for developing countries is between US$215-387 billion per year this decade. However, rich countries haven’t yet met the financial promises they have made to help developing countries become more resilient to the growing risks of climate change.
In addition, these commitments fall drastically short of the finance required; in 2021, the global community delivered just US$21 billion to help developing countries adapt to climate change. Developing heat action plans will help protect vulnerable people from dangerous heatwaves in West Africa, the researchers say.
Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, the Independent Expert on Albinism., reiterates her call for the inclusion of persons with albinism in all fora related to climate change in their various communities and ensuring their participation in disaster planning, management, and response.
Dr Abdullahi emphasizes the imperative of hydration, seeking cooler environments, and adopting suitable attire to mitigate heat-related ailments.
He warns against consuming fizzy drinks, which worsen dehydration-induced complications and stresses the importance of timely intervention during heatstroke episodes “In extreme situations, dehydration could lead to kidney failure (acute kidney injury).”
The heat has prompted me to make some lifestyle adjustments. “I only wear short clothing when I am at home, I have to cover up when going out in the sun,” Joy says.
Odigie employs preventive measures such as the use of sunscreen and staying hydrated to mitigate health risks. She advocates for awareness campaigns and lifestyle adjustments to adapt to changing climate conditions.
According to reports, rising global ambient temperatures affect all populations. However, some populations are more exposed to, or more physiologically or socio-economically vulnerable to, physiological stress, exacerbated illness, and an increased risk of death from exposure to excess heat.
These include the elderly, infants and children, pregnant women, outdoor and manual workers, athletes, and the poor. As temperatures continue to rise globally, vulnerable populations, including individuals like Joy Odigie, face heightened risks. Their experiences, coupled with expert insights from professionals like Dr. Abdullah and Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, underscore the critical need for proactive measures, community support, and awareness campaigns to safeguard public health amidst climate change’s escalating challenges.
