The impact of extreme heat on maternal, newborn and child health – Redefining actionable responses using a climate lens

This policy brief, developed with the Department of Health of South Africa, synthesizes current evidence on the harmful effects of extreme heat on MNCH. Despite progress in defining heat-MNCH indicators and convening multisectoral stakeholders, significant implementation gaps persist in South Africa: early warning systems lack population-specific triggers, risk communication excludes community voices, climate and health data remain fragmented, and dedicated budgets are absent. The brief proposes a phased response framework, anticipate, protect, and recover, supported by cross-cutting actions in capacity building, communication, and data use. It offers concrete recommendations for national and local authorities: establish heat-triggered response protocols, embed heat preparedness into MNCH and climate adaptation policies, invest in cooling infrastructure, and build interoperable climate-health data platforms.