Olu Samuel, Lokoja

No fewer than 24 persons have been confirmed dead while 514 communities were displaced in the flood that ravaged parts of Kogi state in the last six weeks.

The Kogi state government who made the confirmation on Tuesday said that a total of 471,000 persons were rendered homeless while 92 Health Facilities were also Destroyed

Addressing a world Press Conference organised by the ministry of Health on Tuesday in Lokoja, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Zakari Usman lamented the effect of flood on the livelihood of the people, adding that a total of 9 local Government Areas in the State were submerged.

“Although in as much as the water had started receeding, it has left behind huge health implications for the State”.

The Commissioner there called on the Federal government, International Community and Corporate organisations to support the state Government’s efforts in meeting the Health and consumables needs of the victims.

He 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 Centers have been made functional.

He said “Medical personnel are intervening in the 84 known IDPs camp, hinting that some of the IDP camps were faith based and people aggregating themselves within the vicinity of homes destroyed. WHO has 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.

He said, the ministry has mapped out strategy to mitigate against anticipated outbreak of cholera and diorhea and other water borne diseases, saying that the state is yet to record these diseases.

He said the Medical teams were appropriately mobilised to work with Ministry’s partners, DSLO, to quickly report any outbreak of Cholera and treat them accordingly.

He commended the World Health Organisation for the donation of 90 inter agency kits for the treatment of 900,000 patients, drugs, Rapid Diagnostic for Cholera and Malaria and other items.

He applauded Governor Yahaya Bello for the procurement of anti malaria drugs Water guard, LLIMN , Logistics to provide portable water and to be applied at the point of use.

He added that through SEMA and NEMA, food and non food items were distributed across the camp.

While sympathising with the victims, said the Bello care Foundation has enrolled persons with disabilities, pregnant women, children under five years to access medical care at no cost in health facilities within the vicinity.