Govt issues disease outbreak alert in flooded areas
Red Cross rescue personnel search for victims of floods in parts of Garashi in Magarini constituency in Kilifi County where thousands of families have been rendered homeless after flood swept away their houses. PHOTO / ROBERT NYAGAH
Public health officials in Kilifi and Tana River counties have been placed on high alert to deal with possible outbreak of water-borne diseases following recent floods in the area.
Already, more than 3,000 people have been displaced from Magarini constituency and in parts of Tana River county after River Sabaki and River Tana burst their banks following heavy rains.
On Monday, Coast provincial public health and sanitation director Dr Anisa Omar said health officials in the flood-prone areas are on high alert to deal with possible outbreak of water-borne diseases.
“We are at the top of things because last year the World Health Organization (WHO) funded a training programme for our officers, local administrations and communities on how to handle flood situations,” she said.
According Dr Omar, health officials in Magarini constituency and in the Tana Delta are well prepared on what to do in should outbreaks of diarrhea, cholera, dysentery or typhoid occur.
She also noted that breeding of mosquitoes might increase cases of malaria in the area. Stringent measures have already been made at dispensary level by health personnel.
On Sunday, the Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (Tarda) told Tana Delta residents to move to higher grounds after the Masinga dam overflowed, triggering fears of more devastating floods.
Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (Tarda) managing director Abdul Agonga said the overflow is the worst in recent years and could cause serious havoc downstream.
Some 3,000 people have been marooned and more than 10,000 hectares of crops washed away in the lower coast region by the recent floods.
The government has allocated Sh1 billion for flood emergencies in the country, while the Red Cross has set aside 30 metric tons of food and none food items to be distributed in Kolobani, Bate, Songerako, Malimo, Masindeni and Burangi.
Over the weekend some 84 families were rescued by Red Cross after being stranded for five days in Songerako Village of Magarini Constituency.
