With the temperature in Maiduguri reaching a scorching 43°C on Monday, and with no let-up in sight, doctors and medics have advised residents to drink as much clean water as they can.

Babagana Alhaji Grema Ngala, a doctor at the General Mamman Shuwa Memorial Hospital, said drinking water was good for the body all the time, but it was even more important in a heatwave.

He told RNI reporter Hadiza Dawood that water and kidneys were inseparable and worked together hand in hand.

“The main function of the kidneys is to maintain a healthy balance of water, salts and minerals, such as sodium, calcium, phosphorus and potassium, in your blood. The kidneys cannot function without enough water in the body. Too little water can lead to kidney failure or other complicated health problems,” he said.

Ngala said that if people did not drink enough water they could experience a pain in their stomachs. Water enabled people’s bodies to function properly, he said.

“The importance of drinking water in this heat cannot be overemphasised,” he said, adding that drinking water regularly was the only way to maintain good health.

Kasuma Abadam, a resident in Maiduguri, said he had heard that some diseases got worse if people did not drink enough water in a heatwave.

“Since the heatwave began, I have been drinking at least two litres of water before breakfast.”

Abadam said people should avoid crowded places and ensure there was sufficient fresh air.

“Please drink good water when you are thirsty. Don’t drink dirty water because it will harm your health. Water helps to improve your health, protects you from diseases and reduces your weight,” he said.

The temperature is expected to go down slightly this week but it will still be extremely hot. Expected temperatures for this week are: Tuesday 40°C, Wednesday 40°C, Thursday 39°C, Friday 38°C, Saturday 37°C and Sunday 39°C. On Monday it is expected to get hotter again with a temperature of 40°C.