Juba Technical Secondary School/ Courtesy photo

The government has announced closure of all schools for at least two weeks due to an extreme heat wave affecting Juba and other parts of South Sudan.

The order affective from February 21, follows an advisory from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, with temperatures expected to reach between 39 and 42 degrees Celsius over the coming days.

In a press briefing on Thursday, the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Josephine Napwon, confirmed that President Salva Kiir has approved emergency measures to protect public health.

“The approval was given by the President based on the following as far as the advice from the Minister of Environment and Forestry and the approval of issuing of the heat wave advisory by the Minister of Health.

“The Minister of Education is to close schools for a period of two weeks or more and they will be reopened when cool temperatures return. The Minister of Education to consider opening schools in the second week of March instead of February based on the weather changes,” she said.

In addition to school closures, the government has also directed that, government offices will operate on a half-day basis to reduce employees’ exposure to extreme heat.

However, the Ministry of Education is considering delaying the reopening of schools until March if temperatures remain high.

“Government institutions should operate at least for half-day basis for the next two weeks or more,” she added.

In a similar advisory, the Ministry of Health urged citizens to take precautions amid the intensifying heatwaves in the country.

Minister Napwon warned that prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause heat stress, illness, or even death, particularly among vulnerable groups such as infants, the elderly, and those with chronic health conditions.

The government is urging the public to follow safety measures which include, staying hydrated, avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat hours, wearing light-colored and loose-fitting clothing to stay cool and never leave children or pets in closed vehicles.