The worst type of natural disaster is the one caused by humans. Given, flooding is a natural disaster, but not in this case. If you've checked out what is going on in Nigeria right now, you'd be shocked.
So far, it's been reported that over 20 of the 36 states of the nation have been affected by the flooding, and it's only getting worse.
Poor environmental practices and unplanned infrastructure are some root causes, while Nigerian officials say this year's flooding was caused by overflowing rivers, rainfalls that have long stretched beyond the usual season, and more historically, the release of excess water from Cameroon's Lagdo dam. africanews
Sadly, over 500 lives have been lost in this calamity and it got me thinking, these internally displaced people are endangered from all sorts of problems. If I was gonna try to intervene, what health-related problems are they more likely at risk of?
Here are some of the health risks posed by flooding:
1. Drowning, injuries, and trauma: Due to the fact that water level rises quickly, it might lead to drowning. This is often rampant when there is flooding because many river banks overflow and people misjudge the current of the water. Do not walk through moving water as there may be a landslide or debris in the water which can make you fall.
You may also sustain injuries from open manholes or drainages overflowed with water. Driving in flooded water is also dangerous, it is advisable to abandon the car when flood water rises or starts entering into the vehicle. Tetanus infection is not common after injuries from flooding. However, tetanus vaccines are advised to be given to people who sustain injuries or wound.
2. Hypothermia; can be a problem during the rainy season, especially among children. Hypothermia is a situation where the body loses heat faster than it can produce, causing a dangerously low body temperature.
This can happen when trapped in floodwaters for lengthy periods. There may also be an increased risk of respiratory tract infections due to exposure (loss of shelter, exposure to floodwaters and rain).
3. Cholera: Nigeria has been experiencing cholera outbreaks and they are expected to increase with the flood.
Cholera is one of the major water-borne diseases often associated with flooding. Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery stool which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. Cholera is most common in places with poor sanitation, crowding, war and famine.
Flooding may contribute to cholera outbreaks in a number of ways. Floodwater can overflow the sanitation system and contaminate the environment and water sources.
The outbreak is often caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with cholera causing bacterium called vibrio cholerae. This can be transmitted through infected feaces.
4. Hepatitis E: Hepatitis E is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis E virus. The virus is shed in the stool of infected persons and enters the human body through the intestine. Flooding adds to the serious pollution and health risks associated with open defecation which is a problem in Nigeria. This allows for easy contamination of drinking water and food.
Diseases such as hepatitis E is transmitted through contaminated drinking water.
5. Typhoid: Typhoid is a life-threatening fever that is spread through contaminated food and water. Flooding and drought are two extreme weather conditions which intensify the risk of typhoid transmission.
During the flooding period, water sources are more likely to be tainted with faecal matter leaking from poor sewage systems, open defecation, and unimproved sanitation facilities.
Typhoid fever is common in places with poor sanitation and a lack of safe drinking water. Emergency situations put communities at high risk for typhoid transmission due to close living quarters in emergency and refugees shelters. Access to safe water and adequate sanitation, hygiene among food handlers and typhoid vaccination are all effective in preventing typhoid fever. 2
Other than the directly imposed health deterioration caused by the flood, another troublesome concern is the indirect consequences on victims' health.
Flood disasters have a significant impact on chronic health conditions, with medication noncompliance due to nonavailability, difficulties with access to health services, and the physical workload associated with clean-up and reconstruction being significant issues. The reported impact of any interruption to treatment varies according to the underlying condition, with increased mortality rates after disasters in patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Increased exacerbations of cardiovascular disease, including worsening control of hypertension and myocardial infarctions, with an associated increase risk of death, were observed after hurricane events with associated flooding. Patients with chronic respiratory diseases were noted to have an increase in acute exacerbations after natural disasters, owing to disruption in maintenance therapy, loss of power, particularly among oxygen- and nebulizer-dependent patients, and overcrowding. Glycemic control, particularly in users of insulin, was found to have deteriorated in the year after flooding in a large examination of British diabetics. Disruption of treatment, poor nutrition, and change in activity can lead to increased risk of ketoacidosis and death.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression are potential mental health consequences for flood victims. In an assessment of patients with postflood PTSD, symptoms were still present more than a decade later in 19%, with long-standing PTSD predicted by losing relatives in the flood disaster, suffering bodily injury, having a low level of social support, and having a negative coping style. In a controlled, interrupted time series analysis in the United Kingdom, an increase in prescription of antidepressants was observed in the year after flood onset, compared with the year before. Stress in pregnant women affected by flood disasters has been linked to lower birth weights and impaired social functioning in their children, although long-term analyses are lacking.3
Conclusion
the recent widely spread calamity facing the Nigerian state and its people is an emergency with increasing morbidity and mortality as the days go by and require urgent attention and resolution.
References
- https://www.africanews.com/2022/10/12/prepare-for-more-flood-authorities-caution-nigerians//#:~:text=Poor%20environmental%20practices%20and%20unplanned,water%20from%20Cameroon's%20Lagdo%20dam.
- https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-news/346334-five-health-risks-associated-with-flooding.html
- https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/67/9/1450/4945455