Heatwave : Watch Out For Dehydration...

Yaounde, November 25, 2024. It is 1:00 p.m., the weather is cloudy giving way to high sunshine. The temperature is at 31 degrees.  But it feels like 37 degrees due to the high sun intensity, weather experts note. There is no risk for rainfall but dryness, hence, dehydration. Dehydration happens when the body does not have as much fluid as it needs. This means that the body cannot function properly.
The capital city is approaching its long dry season. Reports from the National Observatory on Climate Change (NOCC) show that from 21 - 30 November 2024, there is a gradual onset of the long dry season in the bimodal rainforest zone, notably the Centre, East and northern parts of the South Region, with however a high probability of some localised rainfall (between 05 and 25mm) and a gradual move towards the end of the long rainy season in the southern part of the South Region with rainfall amounts (between 10 and 135mm). The report further indicates that the end of the rainy season in the Monomodal rainforest zone (Littoral and South West Regions), with, however, the persistence of some sporadic and localised rainfall ranging between 05 and 45mm. There will also be a gradual onset of the dry season in the Western Highlands zone (West and North West regions); - an effective onset of the dry season in the Guinea high savannah zone (Adamawa Region) and in the Sudano-Sahelian zone (Far North and North Regions).
With the approach of the dry season nationwide, several regions in the country will be facing a potential threat of elevated temperatures surpassing regional norms, which could predispose the populace to health hazards. This implies an increase in heat conditions, which could cause discomfort for the population and the risk for dehydration is high. Medically, it is said dehydration is usually caused by not drinking enough water or other fluids, sweating too much, fever, urinating too much, or taking certain medicines. Currently, the temperature is very h...