A medical expert in Bauchi State says excessive flooding in some communities in Bauchi State could result in water bourne diseases such as Cholera if not properly managed.
Dr. Isah Ayuba, head of medical services Remee Medicare, Bauchi said flooding by its nature has the potential to contaminate water which could pose serious medical challenges for affected communities.
“One of the diseases that normally broke out when there is flooding in a community is cholera. Other diseases include diarrhea, malaria; because the stagnant water as result of flood serves as breeding ground for mosquitoes”, Dr. Isa said.
He said because of the cold weather, people living in a flooded area are likely to have respiratory tract infections, “in addition to skin infection that is highly likely because of the dirty nature of the environment.”
He said waterborne diseases associated with flooding pose danger to children with weak immune systems, “especially the under five are mostly affected, but adults are not spared from it though.”
“The health challenges associated with the aftermath of flooding are not quite different from those encountered when the flood is on. “The fresh water that people used before the incident now get contaminated with dirty, human and animal wastes which rendered water sourced from well as open reservoir which is unhealthy for human consumption”, he added.
The medical practitioner added that fresh vegetables people eat also get contaminated with all “sorts of dirt and there is seemingly no source of fresh water available to be used to wash such vegetables before consumption.”
Dr. Isah however cautioned people to keep their drainage systems clean before the rainy season, saying such practices will help surface runoff water to move freely.
WikkiTimes recalls that flooding had in recent days devastated some communities in Ningi LGA of Bauchi State, destroying roads and a popular Bauchi-Kano bridge along Ningi road.
The affected communities continue to count losses as authorities promise quicker intervention.
