Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Extreme heat is emerging as a major health and operational risk at large sporting, religious and cultural gatherings, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue new guidance for governments and event organisers.
WHO said on Wednesday that most heat-related illnesses at major events could be prevented or treated at the venue when organisers put effective risk assessment, medical preparedness and response systems in place.
The agency’s evidence review, covering studies published between 1980 and 2025, documented nearly 500,000 medical encounters at mass gatherings, including more than 22,000 heat-related illnesses.
It found that more than 90 per cent of patients could be treated at event venues when on-site medical systems were well organised, reducing pressure on hospitals and ambulance services.
Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said extreme heat should be treated not only as an environmental hazard but as a core operational and governance issue. “Extreme heat is an increasing threat to health, safety and operational continuity in mass gatherings,” Ihekweazu said.
He said mass gatherings could increase heat exposure through prolonged outdoor activity, dense crowds, limited access to safe water, travel-related stress and unfamiliarity with local climatic conditions.
WHO’s new resources, titled Prevention and Management of Heat-Related Illness at Mass Gatherings, recommend accessible safe drinking water and toilets, cooling infrastructure, schedule adjustments and effective crowd-flow management.
The guidance also calls for protection of workers and volunteers, public communication, real-time health surveillance and well-prepared on-site medical services.
WHO said the guidance adopts a “whole-of-event” approach, recognising that venue design, transport, security, communication, water and sanitation can affect people’s access to cooling and timely medical care.
About the Author
Korede Abdullah 
Hope Ajayi 
Oluwatobi Adu 