Atiku Galadima, Author at Tribune Online

THE Federal Government has appealed to Nigerians to clear their canals, drainages and gutters to mitigate floods. A dam update report by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) on Sunday, said the water levels at the nation’s critical stations along the River Benue, showed a steady increase towards flood levels. According to the statement signed by Head Media and Publicity, Lauretta Samuel, as of Saturday, the rise continues but at flood preparedness level. Samuel urged the twelve flood-prone states earlier warned by NIHSA to put measures in place to contain or allow conveyance. This is as a recent overflow in the Alau Dam caused the worst flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State, and in the history of Nigeria. Displacement, diseases loom large THE recent floods in Maiduguri and Jere have displaced at least 600,000 persons, submerging many hospitals and triggering a health crisis in Borno State. The situation is compounded by contaminated water, poor sanitation, and overcrowding, which have increased the risk of disease outbreaks in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. This situation was revealed in a press statement made available to Nigerian Tribune in Maiduguri, on Sunday by Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD) Communication Officer, Jibrin Kolo. The statement warned that IDP camps face a high risk of cholera, typhoid, and dysentery due to contaminated water sources and overcrowding. “CASFOD and Pam Care community initiative are providing urgent relief, including clean drinking water, health services, and hygiene items to displaced families in IDP camps. “With more resources, we aim to address immediate health and sanitation needs and help flood-affected families regain stability.” The statement explained that the floods have devastated the city, displacing people and resulting in at least 30 deaths. The livestock and agricultural sectors have been severely impacted, leaving farmers without income or food. CASFOD is working with partners, such as the World Food Programme, to provide hot meals and drinking water. “Over 70 percent of vulnerable families benefiting from their livestock livelihood programme have lost livestock, exacerbating the crisis. “CASFOD and Pam Care, urge additional support from the government and international donors to expand relief efforts and rebuild livelihoods. As the situation worsens, they stress that more needs to be done. Local residents rely on humanitarian efforts for survival. “Collective efforts are essential to prevent further suffering and ensure a swift recovery for Borno State’s most vulnerable populations,” Kolo added. Borno govt commences fumigation of Maiduguri BORNO government has commenced fumigation as floodwaters recede in Maiduguri. Abdurrahman Bundi, the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Babagana Zulum on New Media, made this known while briefing newsmen at the flood disaster situation room in Maiduguri. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the governor’s aid said the exercise was going on in earnest as displaced persons return home. Bundi said the measure was to contain the possibility of an outbreak related to the devastating floods that affected sewage systems and other dangerous items. “About 15 major areas have been fumigated, including hospitals, correctional service quarters, fire service quarters and parts of Gwange and Shehuri wards,” he said. Meanwhile, the flood has continued to ravage farmlands and roads in the outskirts of Maiduguri, leading to the cutting-off of the Maiduguri – Mafa – Dikwa – Gamboru road. NAN reports that Borno is an international trade gateway with federal roads linking Nigeria with neighbouring countries of Cameroon and Chad. Fears of outbreaks grow following severe flooding —MSF A medical support organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has expressed concern that the number of children affected by malaria and acute watery diarrhoea had already started to increase before the recent flood disaster that devastated Maiduguri and environs. MSF in a statement released over the weekend revealed that, “There is also fear that this crisis could increase the levels of mal-nutrition in the area.” It therefore called for urgent additional support, especially in terms of water, sanitation, and medical care, to protect people already impacted by long-term insecurity and unprecedented levels of malnutrition. “We are very concerned about the precarious living conditions and the potential outbreaks of cholera and malaria,” says Dr Issaley Kader, MSF Head of Mission in Nigeria. Dr Issaley added that, “We are afraid that the number of cases will rise without the increase of medical and humanitarian support, especially regarding water, sanitation and hygiene.” Last week, MSF teams went to several displacement sites (Galtimari, Yerwa, Ali Sheriff, Vocational Enterprise Institute, Teachers Village) to assess people’s needs and start the provision of essential services, such as access to water through water-trucking and water tanks, the installation and repair of latrines, and the distribution of mosquito nets. Teams are also running outpatient consultations in the sites, including mental health support, and referring critical patients to the facilities we support. Given the risks posed by malaria and cholera, MSF is also planning to expand the paediatric facility it supports by 100 beds, to meet the demand of the likely increase in malaria cases. Teams have begun setting up a cholera treatment centre that can be increased to a 100-bed capacity if needed. The Borno State government has announced the closure and merging of most displacement sites in the coming days as they plan to keep three main sites to accommodate people who still have no place to stay for one more week, and a mass cholera vaccination is upcoming. The MSF Head of Mission stressed that, “All parties involved in the humanitarian response must continue providing assistance to the people affected by the floods as long as it will be necessary and ensure immediate and easy access to medical care for those who need it.” READ ALSO: Borno flood: Maiduguri faces growing health crisis