Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa in MT DARWIN
A LOCAL organisation that specialises in population health research and programming, the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Aids Research Zimbabwe is conducting projects in Mt Darwin District aimed at reducing the health risks that extreme heat poses to pregnant women and infants.
The projects are being implemented under the Heat Adaptation for Pregnant Women and Infants (HAPI) initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The initiative targets heat-vulnerable areas, including Mt Darwin District Hospital and its rural health facilities (Dotito and Chitse) where rising temperatures and changing weather patterns have heightened risks for expectant mothers.
The initiative is in line with the Harare Declaration on Climate and Health for Africa, which was adopted during the first Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC) in Harare in October last year.
The conference, which was hosted by CeSHHAR Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Health and Child Care, and other ministries, was officially launched by His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa and was attended by over 500 delegates from 40 African countries.
CeSHHAR research manager Mr Tapiwanashe Nyakabau said the HAPI initiative was developed in response to observed links between hot working conditions.
He highlighted maternal health complications and infant outcomes designed to align community practice with the nation’s changing climate reality.
“Pregnant women are among the most vulnerable groups in our communities. Our approach is to empower, support and educate men so they can extend practical help to their wives during pregnancy,” said Mr Nyakabau.
In this regard, the Climate Change Management Bill (H. B. 5, 2025), which was mentioned in several public hearings, has seen CeSHHAR distributing 83 bicycles to heat champions (village health workers) last week to enable them to disseminate critical weather information to pregnant women.
This work is being led by the director in the Climate, Environment and Health at CeSHHAR Dr Fortunate Machingura, with the project team identified, contributing to poorer health outcomes for both mothers and infants.
“Climate change is hitting the womb first, and this intervention is about making sure mothers and babies don’t pay that price,” she said.
“Key objectives of the HAPI initiative include sustaining healthier infants, lowering maternal and neonatal mortality, and reducing miscarriage rates by promoting heat-aware behaviour, early care-seeking and home-based mitigation measures.”
The work bridges climate Science and Public health with lived realities—translating heat physiology, exposure pathways, and behavioural adaptation into simple, actionable routines that make sense for women’s daily lives.
Ministry of Health and Child Care’s district nursing officer for Mt Darwin District, Dr Amon Dhlana highlighted CeSHHAR’s full participation in climate action.
“The project has trained a network of village health workers into heat champions,” Dr Dhlana said.
“The personnel will provide local education, referrals and practical guidance for families.”
Heat champion for Chitse Clinic, Ms Phiodora Chakururama, said stakeholders and community leaders in the districts have been invited to participate in workshops and outreach sessions.
“This will help to mainstream heat adaptation into maternal care practices,”said Ms Chakururama.
