The Cross River State Government has launched a comprehensive health intervention in flood-ravaged communities in Calabar to avert disease outbreak following the disaster that left families bereaved, displaced and homeless.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, on Tuesday led the Ministry’s senior management team to Atu Community, one of the worst-hit areas, to commence mapping of affected households.
The exercise, carried out on the directive of Governor Bassey Otu, is designed to identify every impacted household to enable prompt distribution of essential medical commodities.
Addressing residents, Dr. Ayuk said the mapping would be completed within days, after which health support packages including mosquito nets, essential drugs and other lifesaving supplies would be distributed to reduce the risk of infections among victims now living in overcrowded conditions.
“Many people are now cramped into very unhealthy conditions. We are mapping everyone affected so that within the next one week or thereabout, we can support them with mosquito nets, drugs and other supplies. They are now exposed to infections such as malaria and we must ensure that these health risks are addressed without delay,” he said.
He added that the Ministry will collaborate with the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, CRSPHCDA, to strengthen services at nearby Primary Health Care facilities and deploy surveillance teams to monitor emerging public health threats.
“We have come here to work. In the next one or two days, we will complete a comprehensive mapping and ensure that commodities capable of preventing ill health are delivered in the shortest possible time,” the Commissioner assured.
The tragedy took a personal toll as Mrs. Chinomso Sarah Sunday, fighting back tears, recounted how her one-year-old child was swept away by floodwaters, while another victim, Mr. Oscar Awor, said his family lost all belongings and has nothing left to salvage.
In a telephone call to the community during the assessment, Governor Otu, who had earlier visited the area, sympathized with victims and attributed the early and severe flooding to climate change.
“I know your state of mind, but I want to assure you that the government will do everything possible to mitigate these circumstances. What we are seeing now is climate change for real. We prepared for flooding, but not this early or at this magnitude. We share in your pain completely,” Governor Otu said.
In his response, the Community Leader, Chief Francis Ekpenyong, commended the Governor and the Health Ministry for the prompt intervention, describing the Governor’s phone call as a demonstration of compassionate leadership that has restored hope to the people.
He thanked Dr. Ayuk for leading the assessment team and welcomed the planned distribution of medical supplies to aid recovery.
