In the West African nation Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown, “open markets” are common. Here fruit and vegetable sellers, most of them women, work with little shade and hydration.
Nearly 15 of Freetown’s 42 markets are open markets and the heat does not just damage the fruits and vegetables causing an economic loss, but also affects workers’ health.
“[The] majority of the women in these markets are exposed to prolonged and extensive heat during the day, which impacts their livelihood and leads to economic losses,” said Eugenia Kargbo, who is a senior heat strategist for Africa with the nonprofit Climate Resilience for All and is working with the community to increase awareness about heat.