Ideas Ghana, in partnership with the Sanofi Foundation of France, has launched a climate resilience project in Yarigabisi in the Upper East Region to protect vulnerable residents from the health risks associated with extreme heat and air pollution.
The initiative will use sensors installed at six locations across the community to monitor temperatures and air pollution levels and provide early warnings to residents, particularly pregnant women, children and the elderly.
Speaking at the launch, the Executive Director of Ideas Ghana, Dr Joseph Ayembilla, said rising temperatures and deteriorating air quality, partly driven by climate change, were increasingly exposing communities to serious health risks.
“We are here in Yarigabisi to launch a project that seeks to address the growing challenges of extreme heat and air pollution associated with climate change. These conditions are increasingly affecting human health, particularly among pregnant women, children and the elderly,” he stated.
Dr Ayembilla explained that the project would help residents understand changing environmental conditions and take precautionary measures to protect their health.
“Together with the Sanofi Foundation of France, we have developed a project that strengthens community resilience by providing heat and air pollution alerts through sensors mounted at strategic locations. This will enable residents to understand the severity of the conditions and take the necessary precautions,” he said.
According to him, the alerts would guide residents on measures such as avoiding unnecessary travel during periods of extreme heat, seeking shade and drinking sufficient water.
As part of the initiative, five women from Yarigabisi have been trained as citizen scientists and equipped with tablets to receive and monitor information generated by the sensors.
The monitoring devices have been installed at six locations, including the Yarigabisi Health Facility and the Yarigabisi Cluster of Schools.
“We are training five women from Yarigabisi as citizen scientists and equipping them with tablets to receive information from the sensors. They will play an important role in ensuring that the community receives timely alerts and understands the environmental risks,” Dr Ayembilla explained.
The system is expected to generate weekly reports on heat and air pollution levels, while alerts will be communicated to residents through voice messages in Gurune and English to improve accessibility.
Dr Ayembilla also raised concerns about the possibility of heat-related illnesses going unrecognised at health facilities, urging healthcare professionals to consider exposure to extreme temperatures when assessing patients.
“Some people visit health facilities with illnesses associated with extreme heat, but these conditions may not always be identified. We therefore want health professionals to begin considering heat exposure when assessing patients,” he noted.
Beyond the early warning system, the project will support 50 vulnerable households, particularly those occupied by pregnant women and elderly persons, to reduce indoor temperatures.
The intervention will involve applying heat-reflective paint to rooftops to reduce heat absorption and improve indoor comfort.
“We are also targeting 50 vulnerable households, particularly those occupied by elderly people and pregnant women, for roof retrofitting using heat-reflective paint. This will help reduce heat absorption and make their homes cooler and more comfortable,” Dr Ayembilla disclosed.
The intervention is expected to help reduce indoor heat exposure, particularly for residents who spend extended periods at home and may be more vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
The launch brought together the Chief of Yarigabisi, the Assembly Member, the Bolgatanga East District Chief Executive, traditional leaders, queen mothers, youth and other community members.
The project seeks to strengthen community preparedness and promote practical measures to reduce the health risks associated with extreme heat and air pollution.
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