Bangladesh exploring ways to combat heat-related risks

Bangladesh is looking at new ways to combat heat related risks after enduring an excessive heatwave in April.

The country's government was forced to impose a weeklong national school closure last month, when temperatures skyrocketed to 40 degrees and beyond. The move affected some 30 million children.

A 12-year-old girl in Dhaka told NHK it was too difficult to attend school in such a dangerous environment.

With support from UNICEF, Bangladesh's health authority has launched the National Guidelines on Heat-Related Illnesses. 

The initiative aims to protect children and vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, from heat-related health risks.

UNICEF says the risk of a preterm delivery is 5 percent higher per 1-degrees Celsius increase.

The organization says addressing heat-related illnesses and prioritizing skills for healthcare professionals are necessary to provide a healthier and brighter future for children in the country.

According to recent UNICEF projections, by 2050, 35.5 million children in Bangladesh are set to face high heatwave frequency. That's 99 percent of the total child population at that time.