Flood Killed 24, Displaced 471,000 Persons – Kogi Govt

Kogi State government has said that the recent flooding which ravaged the state affected over 514 communities, 471,000 persons displaced, 92 health facilities destroyed and recorded 24 deaths during the flood.

The Kogi State commissioner for Health, Dr. Zakari Usman disclosed this yesterday during a world press conference in Lokoja.

He said the call became imperative to support government’s effort in meeting the health and consumables needs of the victims.

He called on the international partners, local collaborators and well-meaning corporate organisations and individuals to come to her aid in order to mitigate against anticipated outbreak of water borne diseases.

The commissioner who lamented that the effect of flood on the livelihood of the people, said a total of nine local government areas in the state were submerged, involving over 514 communities, 471,000 persons were displaced, 92 Health Facilities across the affected LGAs were either partial or completely destroyed.

He said in as much as the water has started receding, it has left behind huge health implications for the state.

Usman, disclosed that as part of Health Sector response by the state, it set up call rapid team in the Ministry of Health, working with some partners in area of programming even as emergency centres had been made functional.

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The commissioner said medical personnel were intervening in the 84 known IDPs, hinting that some of the IDP camps were faith-based and people aggregating themselves within the vicinity of homes destroyed.

He added that WHO had been very helpful since the flood broke out on the 24th September, 2022, as it set up 10 mobile teams consisting four health care workers who have been trained to mount appropriate response to health challenges.

According to him, they have been deployed to intervene in basic life support, examination, diagnostic and referrals to secondary health facilities within the vicinity.