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There is growing evidence of how extreme heat creates risks for pregnant women in Africa. This offers an opportunity for hospitals and digital-health providers to add heat warnings to antenatal care, adequate staff trained on climate-health and faster referral systems. Suppliers of cooling systems could also help hospitals reduce heat exposure in maternity wards
Jacaranda Health in Kenya is already testing heat alerts through PROMPTS, its maternal-health messaging service. Building on an existing platform offers a practical starting point. Hospitals considering similar services would need to establish the cost of follow-up and who would fund continued delivery.
A Wellcome survey across five countries, including Zimbabwe, supports the case for action: 73% of maternity professionals surveyed reported increasing heat-related cases or complications, while 92% wanted more training and resources. These findings demonstrate a need for improved maternal services.
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