Human discomfort in Zanzibar due to temperature stress

Abstract

Weather, climate and health are interconnected in many different ways. All of them are of local as well as of global significance. Weather and climate information is of interest to both health and economic industry. They are obtained via popular news media or weather services, Individuals needs environmental conditions, which enable himlher, drive maxrmum enjoyment/comfort. The discomfort for this study describes what hot weather "feels like" to the average person for various combinations of high temperatures and humid conditions in Zanzibar. This study aim at investigating Human Bioclimatic Conditions in Zanzibar in order to establish the withal of Zanzibar's comfort levels during the various seasons of the year. This will provide knowledge of understanding that will help public agencies identify discomfort conditions that are likely to be harmful to human health so they can implement appropriate health services. The Area of study is Zanzibar, an Island in Indian Ocean of an area of 1530 km2 located between 4°40' and 6°30' S and longitude 39° and 400E. It is situated at 60 km off the Eastern coast of Tanzania mainland. The data used in this study are.- 1. Mean monthly Dry, Wet Bulb, Dew point Temperatures for 0600 GMT and 1200 GMT and Relative humidity from Zanzibar and Pemba Meteteorological Stations. The data cover a period of 45 years (From 1962-2007) to term the climate of the area. 2. Data from government Hospital at Mnazi mmoja Zanzibar. 3. Secondary data from Thorn's Human Discomfort Index and Classification of the DI values by Giles et a1. 1990. Mass curve and scattering methods was used for consistency and homogeneity of the data and for missing data, arithmetic mean method was used. The main objective is to make assessment on Human Bioclimatic Conditions in Zanzibar in order to establish the withal of Zanzibar's comfort levels during the various seasons of the year which can be useful in evaluating human discomfort and apply the index on a national level to determine which months possess the most extreme values. The specific objectives are.- • To identify the causes and impact of Human discomfort in Zanzibar. • To see at what period in the year the problem is rising. • To develop the method of advice to the community. If the values of DI are greater than 80 all people feel uncomfortable due to hot humid weather. When they lay between 75 and 80 about half of the people feels uncomfortable. When they lie between 65 and 75 people feel quite comfortable. About 50% of the people feel uncomfortable due to cold dry weather when the DI lies between 65 and 60 and almost all people feel uncomfortable when the index falls below 60. Combination of high temperatures and humid conditions causes permanent discomfort in the month of January, February, March, April, November and December during afternoon and part of evening hours. In the month of October, September, August and May, half of people feel uncomfortable. Is only July and August in morning and evening hours when people feel comfortable as manifested by the comfort levels. Education should be provided to the community in order to agree and understand the real situation of their area that human being responds to the net impact of all meteorological elements to which they are exposed. Measures should be taken to enable better prediction of the effects of the totality of weather on human health.