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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Two communities, Ugwueke and Ezeukwu, in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, were devastated by flooding as a result of a recent torrential rain, which made the river that passed by the communities to overflow its banks.
The flooding caused colossal damages to property, including farmland, even as one person was reported to have lost his life in the flood.
To mitigate the effects of the disaster, the Abia State Government provided free medicals for the people of Ugwueke and Ezeukwu communities, recently.
Speaking during a free medical outreach, the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, said the exercise was aimed at providing immediate healthcare support to residents affected by the flood and preventing health challenges that could arise, thereafter.
“We know that, when something like this happens, it will always have a spillover effect on the health of the people, hence, the government’s proactive measure to prevent possible health challenges that may arise, thereafter”.
Sympathising with the people over the impact of the flood, Governor Otti, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, expressed the state government’s concern over the situation, assuring the affected communities that the government remained committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of residents, particularly in emergency situations.
He said the medical outreach was part of the government’s response to the disaster, noting that providing access to medical care was essential to preventing secondary health challenges that could arise after flooding.
“I want to sympathise with the people of Ugwueke and Ezeukwu over this unfortunate flood disaster. We understand the difficulties the flood has caused, and we are here to ensure that the health of our people is protected,” he said.
The governor added that the government would continue to respond to the needs of communities affected by emergencies, urging residents to make use of the medical services provided and report any health concerns promptly.
The Director, Public Health, Dr. Princess Agomuo, in her speech, emphasised the need for increased personal and environmental hygiene following the flood.
She cautioned residents against consuming food or drinking water that may have been contaminated by floodwater, stressing that flooding could expose communities to various health risks.
She said residents should properly wash and cook food, avoid foods suspected to have come in contact with contaminated floodwater and ensure that drinking water is safe by boiling it before consumption.
“Residents should resist the temptation of consuming food or drinking water which may have been contaminated by floodwater so as not to expose them to various health risks”.
Some of the people affected by the flood, expressed appreciation to the Abia State Government for responding to their plight through the medical outreach. They equally commended the government for the distribution of mosquito nets and called for more support.
