The Effect of Harmattan on Man and Precaution

By Eno Brown

Harmattan is a dry and dusty West African trade wind. It blows South from the Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the middle of March, generally referred to as winter. The temperatures can be as low as 3 degrees Celsius – 3⁰C.

On its passage over the desert, it usually picks up fine dust particles between 0-5 and 10 micrometres.

In some South African countries, the heavy amount of dust in the air can severely limit visibility and can block the sun for several hours or days.  This tends to affect the airlines, who either cancel or divert flights each year.

In Nigeria for instance, when this season approaches, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) usually commence the calibration of Navigational equipment, known as “Navaids” at some airports and en-route stations across the country to enhance air safety.

Despite its influence on the environment, man who is a product of the environment is greatly affected both negatively and positively.  In this part of the world, climate which is the most important factor in the environment affects man’s health directly and indirectly.

Indirectly, Harmattan has a great influence on plants, animals, insects and even microbes.  Directly, it affects man by taxing the body’s physiological reserves.  The body is affected both internally and externally.  For instance, the eyes, the respiratory tract and the skin which directly communicates with the atmosphere   are usually affected.  The respiratory tract  is affected via the nose and mouth as they remain the most vulnerable.

The body extremities such as the hands and feet are sometimes too cold and generate unpleasant symptoms such as pains.

Babies and elderly are particularly prone to hypothermia (core body temperature below 35 degrees Centigrade) due to sub-optimal temperature regularly mechanism.

Also the eyes are directly exposed to the harsh weather especially the dust particles carried by the wind.  Thus itching, foreign body sensation and redness in individuals with allergic eye disease.  This is usually severe and affects people in Northern Nigeria more than those in the other part of the country.

The respiratory system is also affected by harmattan.  The respiratory tract has a defensive mechanism that stop harmful articles in the air from getting to the lungs. This defense may however be overwhelmed by the concentration of the Pollutants in the atmosphere, depending on person’s health status or owing to the small sized particles that escape entrapment.  The resultant effect is damaging to the system thus predisposing it to infections with symptoms such as excessive sneezing, cough and catarrh to mention but a few.

There is always the epidemic of meningococcal meningitis usually experience between February and May in the Northern part of Nigeria.

Research shows that the dry cold and dusty wind associated with harmattan also trigger sickle cell crisis in affected persons.

Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease in which the red blood cell becomes sickle under a condition of low oxygen tension leading to blockage of small blood vessels.  The reduced blood supply to the tissue results in pain especially from the bones.  The Oxygen is usually reduced in extremely cold temperatures. This call for everyone to take some precautions that will ensure that the natural hazard called harmattan does not make life uncomfortable.

Necessary Precautions To Be Taken

Harmattan is a natural hazard that every man needs to contend with.  Indeed, it is a challenge to live and adapt to this not too favourable weather by adopting some personal and collective measures to stay healthy during the season of harmattan.  For instance, the skin should be kept healthy by applying topical application of oily creams and by putting on of weather friendly clothes rather than expose the skin.  This is the period that people should put on more of suits, flowing gowns, and cardigans.  The homes should be kept warm by closing doors and windows.  This prevents dust from outside to enter inside the house.

Also proper eye hygiene in form of washing with water and putting on of protective spectacles are advocated. Persons who are suffering from lower respiratory diseases should take all possible and practicable measures to reduce exposure to the dusty atmosphere and in addition have their inhaler with them at al times.  Most importantly, sicklers should be vigilant and they should keep themselves as warm as possible to prevent health crisis.  Above all, environmental sanitation exercise by individuals and groups should be encouraged.  Food and fruit hawkers should imbibe healthy food preservation culture to prevent food born diseases. The fruit and vegetables should be properly washed before eating; drinking water containers should be properly covered to avoid contamination.

convert this post to pdf.