Morocco’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection says no deaths or severe illnesses linked to the country’s ongoing heatwave have been recorded so far, despite hundreds of people seeking medical care for heat-related conditions.
Ilham Bchich, the ministry’s director of hospitals and mobile healthcare services, said weekly health monitoring identified 72 moderate cases and 490 mild cases, with no fatalities or critically ill patients reported.
“So far, no deaths or severe cases have been recorded,” Bchich told Hespress AR.
The ministry said it activated its national heatwave health response plan in June by instructing regional health directorates to implement preventive measures aimed at reducing the health impacts of extreme temperatures.
The plan includes ensuring round-the-clock healthcare coverage at hospitals and health facilities throughout the week, while reinforcing staffing in emergency departments, intensive care units and critical care wards at university and regional hospitals.
Health authorities have also been instructed to coordinate with local authorities, municipalities and civil protection services to prepare for potential heat-related emergencies.
Bchich urged the public to follow standard heat safety recommendations, including drinking plenty of water and avoiding prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
Mohamed Mahraoui, head of the emergency department at Casablanca’s Ibn Rochd University Hospital, said the facility has not experienced an unusual increase in heat-related admissions.
“So far, we have not observed an exceptional rise in cases linked to high temperatures,” he said. “We occasionally receive mild cases, such as fatigue or slight dehydration, as is common during the summer, but the overall situation remains normal.”
Mahraoui emphasized that most heat-related illnesses can be prevented by following basic precautions.
He advised people to drink water regularly, even if they do not feel thirsty, and to avoid direct sun exposure during the hottest part of the day, particularly between noon and 4 p.m. or 5 p.m.
He also recommended wearing light-colored, lightweight clothing and staying in cool or well-ventilated areas whenever possible.
The physician warned that older adults, young children, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses remain the most vulnerable to heat-related complications and require additional care during periods of extreme heat.
He also stressed that children and older adults should never be left inside parked vehicles, even for a few minutes, because temperatures inside cars can rise rapidly and become life-threatening.
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