Maiduguri, 14 September, 2024 –Following severe flash floods that displaced hundreds and precipitated well-known injury during multiple communities in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno Whine, the World Health Group (WHO) Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, pledged the group’s unwavering support to those affected.
During his talk to to Maiduguri, Dr. Mulombo met with key figures, including the Governor of Borno Whine, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai El-Kenemi, officials from the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation & Resettlement, as properly as representatives from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Clinical institution and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. In these discussions, he reaffirmed WHO’s dedication to supporting Borno in addressing the health challenges induced by the scorching floods.
Accompanied by the Borno Whine Commissioner of Health and Human Products and services, Professor Baba Mallam Gana, Dr. Mulombo assessed the blueprint back in flood-displaced communities, including the Bakasi and Yerwa IDP camps, the assign aside many displaced folks contain sought refuge.
Dr. Mulombo expressed deep undertaking over the influence of the disaster on the lives of the affected inhabitants, specifically basically the most inclined, including females, kids, and the elderly. He assured the oldsters of Borno Whine that WHO would continue to provide severe technical and operational support to mitigate the health impacts of the floods.
The flooding, precipitated by the breach of the Alu Dam, displaced over a million folks and severely increased health risks such as cholera and other waterborne diseases. This has extra exacerbated the already challenging humanitarian blueprint back in the remark. Moreover, the flood affected the WHO Nationwide Polio Laboratory positioned on the University of Maiduguri Teaching Clinical institution (UMTH).
“On behalf of WHO, I extend my heartfelt sympathy to the people of Borno State affected by this devastating flood. WHO stands with you during this difficult time, and we are committed to ensuring that essential health services reach those in need, particularly those displaced by the crisis,” acknowledged Dr. Mulombo. “We are shocked by the scale of the disaster, but we are here to assess the needs and support both the state and federal governments in addressing the challenges posed by this sudden emergency.”
Dr. Mulombo reiterated WHO’s dedication to collaborating with the Borno Whine government and other partners to prioritize the health and properly-being of affected populations.
In partnership with the Borno Whine Ministry of Health, WHO and its partners contain been actively addressing the health challenges posed by the floods. WHO is carefully collaborating with health authorities to toughen disease surveillance, be certain that that the instant supply of medical presents, and forestall outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
As piece of its rapid response, WHO has deployed four cell clinics to IDP camps and equipped obligatory medicines and medical presents, including Interagency Emergency Health Kits (IEHKs) and malaria therapies. Furthermore, WHO is working to enhance the remark’s ability to hastily detect and answer to disease outbreaks within the camps.
Expressing gratitude to WHO for its ongoing support in responding to the flood emergency, Professor Gana acknowledged, “We appreciate WHO’s swift response and continued efforts to address the health needs of our people. As we focus on immediate relief, we must also prioritize building stronger health systems that can withstand future challenges posed by disasters like this.”
Whereas guiding the WHO crew thru the remark capital, Professor Gana highlighted that the flooding is basically the most severe the placement has skilled in the past 30 years. He reported that 14 health facilities had been affected and hundreds of parents displaced.
The Commissioner emphasized that the rapid wants of the oldsters include safe haven, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), food, and health services. He informed partners to assist the federal government in addressing these urgent wants, whereas the federal government continues its efforts to be certain that that folks can return to their homes as soon as that you are going to be in a arena to imagine.
In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno expressed his appreciation to every the federal government and WHO for his or her instant support to the affected populations. He additionally known as on the federal government to implement a lasting acknowledge to prevent future breaches of the dam.
WHO’s involvement, alongside health partners, kinds piece of a broader dedication to supporting the Borno Whine government in addressing the health impacts of emergencies such as floods, disease outbreaks, and other humanitarian crises. As piece of this ongoing support, WHO has deployed emergency health groups to flood-affected areas to conduct possibility assessments, ship health schooling, and enhance surveillance programs to detect and forestall disease outbreaks, including cholera and malaria.
These floods come at a time when Borno Whine is already grappling with a complex humanitarian disaster driven by years of battle and displacement. The WHO Country Representative’s talk to and the Group’s steadfast dedication to supporting the remark highlight the severe want for sustained health interventions in such challenging humanitarian settings.
WHO’s efforts in Borno Whine are aligned with its world mandate to provide technical leadership and steering in emergencies, ensuring that inclined populations continue to contain get real of entry to to life-saving health services, even in basically the most challenging circumstances.
