South Sudan declared the indefinite closure of all schools on Saturday due to the intensifying heatwaves with exceptionally high temperatures across the country.
Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng stated that the heatwave, characterized by temperatures between 41 and 45 degrees Celsius, is expected to persist for up to two weeks.
“The government has decided to take the following measures, one, close down all schools with effect from March 18, two, during the closure of the schools, parents are advised to stop their children from playing outdoors for prolonged periods and they should also monitor children, especially the young ones, for signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke,” Awel notified reporters in the capital, Juba.
She mentioned that heatwaves can have acute effects on large populations over short periods, often leading to public health emergencies and increased mortality rates.
Awel stated that the disease surveillance department at the health ministry has implemented a system to detect and respond to cases of heat-related illness. He also mentioned that there have already been reports of deaths attributed to excessive heat in South Sudan.
A recent circular issued by the Environment and Forestry Ministry cautions about the potential for illness and fatalities among both adults and children if they are exposed to prolonged high heatwaves.
Joseph Africano Bartel, the Undersecretary in the Environment Ministry, remarked that climate change is increasingly becoming a global concern, leading to significant temperature variations in South Sudan.
He advised the public to take precautions against the rising heatwaves in the country.
Furthermore, Africano appealed to developed countries to reduce emissions, cautioning that South Sudan would soon face the impacts of climate change in the form of heavy rains, floods, and droughts.
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