ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON WOMEN AND GIRLS’ HEALTH IN AFRICA
In Africa, the environment has a direct impact on the health of women and girls.
Women and girls are often the most affected by environmental challenges because they are the primary providers of food, water and energy for their families.
Key Impacts:
Unsafe Water and Sanitation
Many women and girls walk long distances to fetch water from unsafe sources. This exposes them to waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid, and to physical strain and safety risks.
Indoor Air Pollution
The use of firewood and charcoal for cooking exposes women and girls to harmful smoke, leading to respiratory diseases, eye problems and heart conditions.
Climate Change and Food Insecurity
Drought, flooding and poor harvests reduce food availability. Women and girls are often the first to eat less, leading to malnutrition and anemia, especially during pregnancy.
Heat and Natural Disasters
Extreme heat, floods and drought increase the risk of malaria, cholera, heat-related illness and displacement, affecting pregnant women, nursing mothers and young girls the most.
Chemical Exposure
Exposure to pesticides in farming and unsafe waste in markets and homes affects reproductive health and child development.
Mental Health
Loss of livelihoods, displacement and caring for sick family members increase stress, anxiety and depression among women and girls.
What Must Be Done
Provide access to clean water, clean energy and safe sanitation
Include women in climate and environmental decision-making
Promote climate-smart agriculture and health education
Strengthen health systems to respond to climate-related diseases
Protecting the environment is protecting the health of women and girls.
Healthy environment, healthy women, healthy Africa.
#WAELEAFRICA #WomenHealth #ClimateAndHealth
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