Miles for Water: The Daily Health Burden of Climate Change on Women

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Jasminy Musa Belotti Dessiyeh, a 19-year-old medical student at FACISB (Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde de Barretos), Brazil. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

Climate change is intensifying water scarcity in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, increasing the physical burden and directly impacting the health of women who are traditionally responsible for water collection. Longer droughts, higher temperatures, and increasingly distant water sources are contributing to increasing water scarcity worldwide. In these regions, these changes disproportionately affect women, who are expected to secure this essential resource for their households.

On average, women walk between 3 to 6 miles daily to collect water, sometimes reaching up to 13 miles as sources become more distant due to climate-related changes. This task is often performed under extreme heat while carrying heavy loads, significantly increasing physical strain and exposure to health risks.

The health consequences are substantial. Limited access to clean water is associated with poor hygiene conditions, increasing the risk of urinary and reproductive tract infections. Additionally, reliance on unsafe sources increases the risk of gastrointestinal diseases.

From a physiological perspective, prolonged exposure to heat combined with limited fluid intake leads to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, resulting in fatigue, dizziness, and tachycardia. In more severe cases, impaired thermoregulation may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Furthermore, the repeated transport of heavy containers places chronic stress on the musculoskeletal system, contributing to conditions such as lower back pain, disc herniation, and joint injuries.

This burden becomes even more critical when considering pregnancy. In regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, where fertility rates remain among the highest in the world, many women perform these activities while pregnant. During gestation, physiological demands increase significantly, including a greater need for hydration and maintenance of circulatory volume. Inadequate fluid intake, especially when combined with physical exertion and heat exposure, can lead to hypovolemia and reduced uteroplacental blood flow. As a result, there is an increased risk of fetal distress, intrauterine growth restriction, and preterm birth.

Addressing this issue requires more than acknowledging water scarcity — it demands a gender-sensitive approach to climate and health policies. Investments in water infrastructure, access to sanitation, and community-based solutions are essential to reduce the physical burden placed on women. At the same time, their lived experiences must be recognized in decision-making processes. Climate change is not only reshaping the environment, but also deepening existing inequalities. In many parts of the world, the distance to water has become a direct measure of health risk — and for millions of women, that distance is walked every single day.

About the author

Jasminy Musa Belotti Dessiyeh is a 19-year-old medical student at FACISB (Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde de Barretos), Brazil, and a member of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), where she is actively involved in the Standing Committee on Public Health (SCOPH). She is particularly interested in neurology and psychiatry, with a growing focus on global health and health inequalities. She is engaged in community-based initiatives, including outreach programs for people experiencing homelessness and participatory educational activities, emphasizing the importance of equitable and socially responsive healthcare.