West Africa: WHO Raises Alarm Over Region's Floods
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This Day (Lagos)
26 August 2008
Posted to the web 27 August 2008
Abimbola Akosile
Lagos
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concern over rising flood waters across West Africa, which was described as capable of intensifying health risks for millions of people, and adding to the impact of the food price crisis.
Nigeria, one of the major countries in the region, has not been altogether immune from flooding disasters, as several settlements have been affected by over-flooding in recent times, especially in the middle belt area e.g. Niger and Adamawa States.
The health arm of the United Nations (UN) also canvassed for international aid for the region, as heavy rains forecast to last until September could exacerbate health threats for conditions including malaria, diarrhoea and other potentially fatal communicable diseases.
"West Africa's annual floods bring with them not only the threat of vector-borne and communicable diseases, but it further endangers the lives of people already malnourished by the food price crisis," said Dr. Eric Laroche, Assistant Director-General of WHO's Health Action in Crises Cluster.
According to the WHO statement, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Togo need urgent assistance. "Flooding has caused widespread damage to bridges, roads, railway lines and other infrastructure vital for delivering health services and humanitarian supplies. Seasonal rains have also caused damage in Guinea-Bissau, Liberia and Sierra Leone", it stated.
WHO is responding by providing essential medicines, assessing the health status of the vulnerable populations, particularly children, women and the elderly , and helping raise badly needed humanitarian funding.
Some $418 million was requested for West Africa in 2008's revised Consolidated Appeal for the region, of which $76 million was needed for emergency health care. To date, only 22 per cent of the health funding needs have been met.
The statement added that endemic and epidemic communicable diseases are common in West Africa, with malaria being the main cause of illness and death in the region.
"Meningitis, cholera and yellow fever also claim scores of lives annually and cause great human suffering, which is only expected to be intensified due to the extra strains placed by the floods on the health sector".
According to WHO, an estimated 5 million people also live with HIV/AIDS in the region, whose health care is further compromised by the flooding.
The destruction of agricultural lands and loss of crops aggravates the food security crisis in the region. Several West African countries are among the 21 worldwide identified by WHO as being most at risk from the food crisis.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are above the global emergency threshold for malnutrition, with over 10 per cent of children under five years of age suffering from acute malnutrition and over 40 per cent with chronic malnutrition.
Acute malnutrition develops quickly in vulnerable populations and involves a rapid loss of weight and the greater potential for death, compared with chronic malnutrition (stunting), which develops over a longer time and affects the height and learning abilities of sufferers.
In Benin, the current flooding has displaced at least 150 000 people and raising fears of malaria, diarrhoeal diseases and respiratory infections, especially among children.
Relevant Links
WHO is helping supply clean water and provide appropriate sanitation, distribute bed nets and essential drugs, and undertake measles vaccinations for children. In Niger, 24, 000 people have been displaced, while 12, 000 have been displaced in Togo.
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