Chipo Hazel Dekesa, an intern at the Chinhoyi University of Technology, plays a pivotal role in addressing the critical intersections of climate change and public health in Harare through her involvement in the CASCADE project. Her work supports crucial research aimed at understanding and mitigating urban health challenges, ensuring timely completion of initiatives that address the city’s vulnerability to climate-induced health risks such as cholera outbreaks.

Inspired by Harare’s urgent health needs, Dekesa’s efforts advance practical and effective interventions tailored to the city’s unique challenges. She emphasizes the significance of her contributions to the co-production of knowledge, crucial for tackling both current and future climate-related threats. Furthermore, she highlights the critical role of the CASCADE project in integrating climate factors into health risk management, areas previously overlooked due to insufficient targeted research.

Dekesa’s insights call for a unified approach by policymakers, researchers, and communities to develop strategies that enhance resilience and health security in Harare. Her commitment exemplifies the essential steps necessary for building adaptive measures against climate-induced health risks in African cities.