A public health expert and former Cross River state Commissioner for Health, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has called on all authorities to expedite actions in finding immediate solutions to the recent flooding across the country to Prevent disease outbreak especially Diarrheal diseases and other vaccine preventable diseases, such as Wild Polio Virus.
She stated this while appearing as guest on the SilverBird Television breakfast show while answering questions on the impact of the recent flooding activities in the country.
Dr Janet Ekpenyong noted that, an urgent need for the resettlement of flood victims as well as the provision of their essential needs has become imperative to cushion concerns over outbreak of vaccine preventable diseases, air and water borne diseases.
“There’s need to resettle them urgently to protect them from diarrheal diseases such as, Cholerae, typhoid as these people have little or no access to clean drinking water, other challenges like malnutrition because displaced people don’t have access to food and vector diseases, such as malaria, due to the poor and unhygienic environment.
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She called for the collaboration and support from both the Private, States and Federal Government to find a lasting solution in adapting to global warming and it’s consequential effects on our daily lives, to prevent any humanitarian crises such as what I’d been experienced in Borno state.
She noted that adequate sensitization of citizens living in coastal regions should be intensified irrespective of resistance from residents over claims of ancestral ownership and cultural practices.
“There should be preparations in states through sensitization for residents to leave flood prone areas while also working on projections on flooding and engaging in proactive measures”.
She commended the proactive efforts of the Federal government in setting up a disaster relief fund and other measures taken so far to address flooding challenges in the country.
She expressed devastation to the Suspected cases of Wild Polio Virus noting that the nation had over the years worked hard in eliminating the virus and keeping the borders safe from it’s attack.
So far, over 300,000 people are said to have been displaced in the recent flooding in Borno state with a further prediction of twice this figure if an urgent response isn’t put in place.
