| dc.description.abstract | Weather, climate and health are interconnected in many different ways. All of them are of
local as well as of global significance. Weather and climate information is of interest to both
health and economic industry. They are obtained via popular news media or weather
services,
Individuals needs environmental conditions, which enable himlher, drive maxrmum
enjoyment/comfort. The discomfort for this study describes what hot weather "feels like" to
the average person for various combinations of high temperatures and humid conditions in
Zanzibar. This study aim at investigating Human Bioclimatic Conditions in Zanzibar in order
to establish the withal of Zanzibar's comfort levels during the various seasons of the year.
This will provide knowledge of understanding that will help public agencies identify
discomfort conditions that are likely to be harmful to human health so they can implement
appropriate health services.
The Area of study is Zanzibar, an Island in Indian Ocean of an area of 1530 km2 located
between 4°40' and 6°30' S and longitude 39° and 400E. It is situated at 60 km off the Eastern
coast of Tanzania mainland.
The data used in this study are.-
1. Mean monthly Dry, Wet Bulb, Dew point Temperatures for 0600 GMT and 1200
GMT and Relative humidity from Zanzibar and Pemba Meteteorological Stations.
The data cover a period of 45 years (From 1962-2007) to term the climate of the area.
2. Data from government Hospital at Mnazi mmoja Zanzibar.
3. Secondary data from Thorn's Human Discomfort Index and Classification of the DI
values by Giles et a1. 1990.
Mass curve and scattering methods was used for consistency and homogeneity of the data
and for missing data, arithmetic mean method was used.
The main objective is to make assessment on Human Bioclimatic Conditions in Zanzibar in
order to establish the withal of Zanzibar's comfort levels during the various seasons of the
year which can be useful in evaluating human discomfort and apply the index on a national
level to determine which months possess the most extreme values.
The specific objectives are.-
• To identify the causes and impact of Human discomfort in Zanzibar.
• To see at what period in the year the problem is rising.
• To develop the method of advice to the community.
If the values of DI are greater than 80 all people feel uncomfortable due to hot humid
weather. When they lay between 75 and 80 about half of the people feels uncomfortable.
When they lie between 65 and 75 people feel quite comfortable. About 50% of the people
feel uncomfortable due to cold dry weather when the DI lies between 65 and 60 and almost
all people feel uncomfortable when the index falls below 60.
Combination of high temperatures and humid conditions causes permanent discomfort in the
month of January, February, March, April, November and December during afternoon and
part of evening hours. In the month of October, September, August and May, half of people
feel uncomfortable. Is only July and August in morning and evening hours when people feel
comfortable as manifested by the comfort levels.
Education should be provided to the community in order to agree and understand the real
situation of their area that human being responds to the net impact of all meteorological
elements to which they are exposed.
Measures should be taken to enable better prediction of the effects of the totality of weather on human health. | en |
