Of the many concerns from the onset of the Volta Floods, public health crisis was of prime concern.
It was believed that even though no life had been lost to the floods directly, the floods may be a friendlier antecedent to a public health crisis. Thus, public health professionals loudly warned of the threats of the situation.
Their warnings were premised on the concussion of residue from cemeteries, latrines, pesticides, mortuaries, hospitals, pressure on social amenities, overcrowding at camps to mention but a few that the floods carried.
Never should it be said that the warnings were prophecies of doom because the professionals sought to forestall such situations as is becoming of Buipe; a flood of health issues.
As hopes glimpse at the receding of the level of the waters, reports, however, indicate that there is an outbreak of typhoid fever and malaria in the Buipe community as open defecation has become rife amidst the floods. Health officials say typhoid fever and malaria cases reported to health facilities account for close to 85 percent.
Madam Bridget Barchisu Mankir, the Queen mother in the area, whose area has been greatly affected, said that the surge in typhoid cases is a result of the water sources being consumed. She therefore warned people to visit the hospitals and medical centers set up immediately if they suspect they are not well
“All our public toilets have been submerged and there is no source of clean water so they drink from the same water they defecate in.. We are suffering the brunt of the floods. This situation will widen the already existing healthcare gaps. Get to the hospital and see people lying there and even those at home are suffering from typhoid and malaria.”
Madam Bridget Barchisu Mankir
She emphasized that the situation is alarming and devastating.
As the floods have dominated their homes, thousands of people have fled their homes for higher grounds.
The Buipe community has for the past month been battling with flood waters affecting over 7,000 residents. Most of these victims are now put up in schools, where the original capacities of washroom facilities have been overstretched.
Support From VRA To Forestall Health Crisis
The Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Services at the Volta River Authority, Mr. Ken Arthur, announced that the Authority has partnered with Zoomlion to provide sanitary services to the affected communities to forestall an uncontrollable health crisis.
“Zoomlion has been contracted to provide mobile toilets, service them, and also provide sanitation services at the safe havens.”
Ken Arthur
He added that “an access road has been created in Mepe to the St. Kizito Center to avoid accessing by boat.”
He also emphasized the need to dredge the Sogakope Bridge to facilitate the flow of the river into the ocean.
Mr. Ken Arthur emphasized that the VRA will leave no victim behind in its support missions.
“We wish to assure the public that VRA will continue to monitor the situation and provide the needed support, together with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the other relevant agencies, to ensure the well-being of the affected communities.”
Ken Arthur
“The authority reiterates that no one will be left behind in this emergency,” he emphasized.
Mr. Arthur, on behalf of VRA expressed solidarity with all those impacted and affirmed the organization’s resolute dedication to collaborate with NADMO and other pertinent authorities in providing relief and support to the affected individuals.
Therefore, the Volta River Authority has announced that it has set aside GHS 20 million to support the residents of the affected areas. According to the VRA GHS9 million of the total money set aside for the victims has already been spent in support of some 36,000 victims.
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