Freetown City Council (FCC), in partnership with HB Ltd, the Ministry of Health’s Directorate of Environmental Health and the District Health Management Team, launched a two-day training programme for frontline healthcare workers. This key initiative aims to equip participants to recognise, treat, and manage heat-related illnesses, raise public awareness about the dangers of extreme heat, and prepare effectively for future extreme heat events. A significant objective of the program is also to strengthen data collection mechanisms for heat-related illnesses within the city, providing a clearer picture of the public health challenge. Freetown has previously appointed Africa’s first Chief Heat Officer, signaling a proactive and pioneering approach to addressing escalating climate challenges and their impact on public health.
Full Heat Action Strategy
The initiative is an integral part of a broader "Enhancing Heat-Health in Freetown" project, which is supported by C40 Cities. This full project aims to bolster the city's capacity to address the growing health impacts of rising temperatures, which are becoming an increasingly pressing concern. As part of this commitment, Freetown adopted its first-ever Heat Action Plan in 2024, a landmark document outlining a strategic approach to mitigate heat-related risks across the municipality. The plan includes a multi-faceted approach, incorporating measures for early warning systems to alert residents to impending heatwaves, widespread public awareness campaigns to educate the populace, and improved healthcare responses to manage increased demand. Together, these elements form a strong and full framework for the city's climate adaptation efforts, ensuring a coordinated and effective response to heat-related challenges.
Training Details and Objectives
The intensive training programme commenced on July 14, bringing together a dedicated group of 35 healthcare professionals from various frontline roles. These targeted sessions are meticulously designed to cover the recognition and clinical management of a wide range of heat-related illnesses, from heat exhaustion to more severe conditions like heatstroke. A key component of the curriculum involves participants learning to accurately identify vulnerable populations within the community, such as the elderly, young children, and individuals with chronic health conditions, who are at significantly higher risk during periods of extreme heat events.
The curriculum further includes an in-depth understanding of current heat trends, providing context to the escalating problem, and their specific physiological impacts on the human body. Effective community engagement strategies are also a key component, equipping healthcare workers with the skills and tools to effectively communicate heat risks and disseminate vital preventative measures to residents across the city. Additionally, the training addresses critical aspects of health facility preparedness, ensuring that medical centers and clinics are well-equipped and ready to respond efficiently to an anticipated increase in heat-related cases, thereby enhancing the overall resilience of the healthcare system.
Addressing Economic and Social Impacts
Extreme heat is not only a health crisis but also carries significant economic consequences, costing Freetown billions in economic losses annually due to reduced productivity, healthcare burdens, and other impacts. To mitigate some of these immediate and tangible impacts, the innovative Market Shade Cover Project has been implemented. This project has successfully provided much-needed shade and significantly improved working conditions for more than 2,300 women vendors who often work long hours outdoors. The project was strategically implemented at key market locations across the city, specifically at the Congo Town, Bombay, and Calaba Town markets, directly benefiting a large segment of the informal economy.
Context and Future Preparedness
Key deliverables outlined for the broader "Enhancing Heat-Health in Freetown" project include the formal establishment of a dedicated Heat Health Task Force, which will serve as a central coordinating body. A major objective is the ambitious target of training 500 healthcare workers, significantly expanding the city's capacity to respond to heat-related health issues. The initiative also involves conducting a thorough baseline assessment of heat-health risks to inform future interventions, the development of clear communication tools and strong heat response protocols, and the implementation of a citywide community engagement and awareness campaign to foster public understanding and preparedness. These concerted efforts directly address the current challenge that heat-related illnesses remain under-recognised and are not routinely reported within Sierra Leone’s existing health system. The full approach aims to smoothly integrate heat-health management into existing public health frameworks and dramatically improve the quality and consistency of data collection, ultimately leading to more effective interventions and better public health outcomes.