The Kogi State Chapter of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) on Tuesday raised alarm over eminent epidemic as a result of flood that has sacked thousands from their houses in the State.
The Association also called on the Federal Government, corporate organizations and international agencies to assist Kogi state with relief materials and palliative in order to avert the outbreak of diseases in IDP camps due to the 2022 flood disaster.
Chairman, Kogi state chapter of NMA, Dr. Olusola Baoku made the call at a press conference held in Lokoja.
According to him, the quantum of damage done by the flood disaster can not be shouldered by the state government alone, warning that if urgent steps are not taken, there can be outbreak of infectious diseases in the camps due to the high population of the victims.
He explained that the executive members of the association together with the state governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello have visited many places affected by the flood in Lokoja.
“The NMA executive members together with the state governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello visited Saint Luke primary school Adankolo in Lokoja one of the flood victims’ camp, the numbers of people both women, children , adults and the elderly are many.
“Our fear right now is that there can be outbreak of diseases that is why as association in charge of health and wellbeing of people we are urging the federal government and other spirited individual to come to the aid of Kogi state to possibly avert this impending health challenges because the disaster is beyond the control of the state government” he stated
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While recounting some of the loses suffered by communities, the NMA Chairman said that Ibaji local government that is known as the food basket of the state, their farm land and houses were completely washed away by the flood leaving them in perpetual hunger and suffering.
According to him, many people who have invested their hard earned money in businesses and many pensioners who used their pensions to build houses have lost their homes to the flood disaster.
Speaking further he pointed out that the economic activities of the people of the state has been paralyzed as the businesses of many people are now under water while religious houses submerged in water.
He lamented that many people can not asses health facilities, while some children can not go to schools because flood has affected the schools.
Dr Baoku commended the state Governor and the ministry of health for taken proactive measures in providing the IDP camps across the affected local government areas of Kogi state, assuring that the association had deployed medical officers to render services to the victims in the camps.
