Country: Iraq Source: CARE By Ali Huda Summer temperatures in Basra, Iraq, now regularly exceed 120°F. For pregnant women, the heat is more than uncomfortable — it can be dangerous. Across the city, healthcare providers and community health workers are adapting to meet these growing challenges and help families stay safe during periods of extreme heat. Understanding new health risks Basra, one of Iraq’s largest cities, sits in the country’s south, where summers are some of the hottest in the world. The city is home to more than 1. 6 million people, and that number is growing. Extreme heat like this can make it harder for pregnant women to stay hydrated and regulate body temperature, increasing the risk of heat-related illness and other pregnancy complications. “Many pregnant women arrive with low blood pressure and symptoms that are worsened by the heat, ” says Sarah Yasin, who works at the Hay Al Hussein Primary Health Care Center, which is supported by CARE“We advise them to protect themselves because heat can affect both the mother and the baby. ” The coastal desert city has always been hot. In 2016, it measured a high of 129°Ff — one of the hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth. Still, temperatures have been climbing over recent years. “The heat has increased significantly, ” says Sarah. “The lack of rainfall and the reduction of green spaces are making the situation worse. ” Marwa Hayman, one of Sarah’s colleagues, says that rising temperatures are increasing health risks for women managing pregnancies, caring for young children, and carrying out daily household responsibilities. Among women visiting the health center, Marwa often observes conditions she believes are aggravated by prolonged exposure to extreme heat. “We see dehydration, exhaustion, and both low and high blood pressure, ” Marwa explains. “Many women spend long hours caring for large families and managing household tasks, often in poorly ventilated homes during periods of extreme heat. Combined with frequent pregnancies and limited opportunities for rest, these conditions can place considerable strain on their health and wellbeing. ” Helping families adapt A mother shepherds her children through the Hay Al Hussein Primary Health Care Center, after attending a community health information session. Around the world, the impacts of climate change can intensify existing inequalities that already make it difficult for women and girls to access healthcare, resources, and support. For healthcare providers like Sarah, supporting pregnant women means responding to health challenges that are becoming more common as conditions change. Recognizing that periods of extreme heat were placing new demands on maternal healthcare, CARE and the Ministry of Health are equipping healthcare providers and communities with practical tools to reduce health risks. Now, professionals like Sarah, Marwa, and CARE-supported community health workers are receiving specialized training and sharing practical information with families to help reduce health risks during periods of extreme heat. “We learned what to do during power outages, how to manage heavy workloads during extreme heat, and simple measures such as improving ventilation, opening doors and windows, and encouraging people to drink cold water, ” says Sarah. “I would definitely recommend the training to other colleagues. ” Living through Basra’s hotter summers Community health worker Hajer meets with Taysir Salim to discuss topics like family planning and the dangers of extreme heat. Summer is a challenge for Taysir Salim*, a 35-year-old mother of four. She spends much of her day caring for her children and her husband, who is diabetic. “Even simple things like cleaning the house or cooking become difficult during the summer, ” she says. She recalls her daughter fainting during a trip to the market on an especially hot afternoon. “I think everyone in Basra has experienced a health problem because of the heat. ” Like many women in the city, Taysir has adapted her daily routine to cope, completing household chores early in the morning and avoiding unnecessary trips outside. She says she benefitted from attending a training on maternal health, heat-related risks, and what to do about them. “I learned how to better protect myself and my children, ” she explains. “Now I make sure we drink enough water, use umbrellas when we go outside, and avoid the hottest hours of the day. ” For Taysir, the session turned general advice into practical steps she can use every day to help keep her family safe during Basra’s hottest months. Bringing health information door-to-door Members of the community health worker team meet in their office at the health center before making their daily visits. Health workers Muamal and Nour knock on doors to reach community members in their neighborhoods. Across Basra, a CARE-supported team of workers shares information beyond clinic walls. They visit homes, neighborhoods, and primary healthcare centers, speaking with women like Taysir and their families about maternal health, breastfeeding, family planning, and staying safe during periods of extreme heat. Team leader Muamal says, “It feels rewarding when people tell us they learned something new, especially when the new thing can improve their lives. ” Having both male and female workers allows the staff to offer one-on-one sessions separately to women and men. During their, they often meet families with limited access to health information. Some don’t know about family planning options, while others stop breastfeeding because they think formula helps babies grow faster. “We explain the benefits of breastfeeding and family planning, ” Muamal says. “Many women tell us afterward that they plan to change some of their practices because they understand the health benefits better. ” For Muamal, who is also an environmental engineer, the work is particularly close to his heart. “I felt my responsibility toward the community had doubled because of the environmental and health challenges people face. Choosing to work in environmental and health awareness has been one of the best decisions of my career. ” Another community health worker who has found the work to be deeply personal is Ghufran. Like all the other members of the team, she lives in the same communities where she works. “As a mother myself, I have seen how spacing pregnancies gives women time to recover physically and emotionally, ” she says. “It allows families to give more attention and care to each child and makes managing family responsibilities much easier. ” Those conversations are already reaching women like Amina Yousuf*, who attended awareness sessions at her local primary healthcare center. “These topics are very useful, ” she says. “I am now much more aware of how extreme heat can affect women, especially pregnant women. ” Strengthening maternal health during extreme heat Dr. Mustafa, Director of Shatt Al-Arab Health Center, is a strong supporter of the Mother Care Project in Basra Dr. Mustafa, Director of Shatt Al-Arab Health Center, says the results of the Mother Care Project Phase II are already visible. “The training courses and support provided to our health center have significantly strengthened the capabilities of our staff and improved the quality of services offered to citizens, ” he says. “The awareness activities on climate and health challenges are helping build a community that is better prepared to face these risks. ” As Basra’s summers grow hotter, healthcare providers, community health workers, and families are adapting together. By strengthening local health services and sharing practical knowledge, they are helping pregnant women and mothers make informed decisions to protect their health during periods of extreme heat. *Names changed to protect participant identities. CARE has worked in Iraq since 1991, providing essential assistance to communities affected by conflict, displacement, and economic hardship. After suspending operations in 2004, CARE resumed programming in 2014 in response to a major displacement crisis in Ninewa that forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. Today, CARE works across several governorates, including Dohuk, Ninewa, Salah Al-Din, Al-Anbar, and Diyala. We support refugees, internally displaced people, and other communities facing the long-term effects of conflict, climate change, and economic instability. Women and girls are at the center of CARE’s work in Iraq. We partner closely with women-led and women’s rights organizations to strengthen women’s leadership, expand economic opportunities, improve access to maternal health care and information, and support women’s participation in decisions that affect their lives and communities.
In Iraq, health workers help pregnant women adapt to extreme heat
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