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The Freetown City Council (FCC) has launched a two-day training programme for frontline healthcare workers aimed at strengthening the city’s response to the growing health risks associated with extreme heat.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with HB Ltd, the Ministry of Health’s Directorate of Environmental Health, the Western Area Urban District Health Management Team (DHMT), and supported by C40 Cities, seeks to equip healthcare workers with skills to identify, treat, and manage heat-related illnesses.
The training forms part of the Enhancing Heat-Health in Freetown Project, which aims to train 500 healthcare workers, strengthen heat-health protocols in health facilities, and integrate heat-health services into routine healthcare delivery.
FCC said the intervention is part of Freetown’s broader climate resilience efforts as the city continues to face the effects of rapid urbanisation and climate change, which have increased exposure to extreme temperatures.
The Freetown Heat Action Plan identifies rising temperatures, limited green spaces, and expanding urban development as factors contributing to increased heat risks, particularly among vulnerable groups including children, older persons, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and residents of densely populated communities.
Health experts have warned that prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, making early recognition and treatment essential.
City authorities said improving the capacity of healthcare workers will help health facilities respond more effectively to heat-related illnesses while also enabling communities to receive better guidance on protecting themselves during periods of excessive heat.
The project builds on Freetown’s climate adaptation agenda, including the city’s Heat Action Plan, which promotes early warning systems, public awareness, improved healthcare preparedness, and coordinated emergency response.
Freetown is also the first city in Africa to appoint a Chief Heat Officer, a move recognised internationally as a significant step in addressing the impacts of extreme heat.
Alongside healthcare interventions, FCC said it will continue implementing measures to reduce urban heat, including tree planting, improved access to drinking water, cooling infrastructure, and shaded spaces for outdoor workers and residents.
The Council said the initiative reflects growing collaboration between local authorities, government institutions, and international partners to build a healthier and more climate-resilient Freetown capable of responding to rising temperatures.
