Wednesday 13 July 2011

Epidemic outbreak looms in Lagos •As rain wreaks more havoc, more dead bodies found •NEMA confirms 9 deaths in Katsina

AS the flood from the two-day torrential rain receded in Lagos and other parts of the country on Tuesday, there was an increasing fear of a possible outbreak of epidemic in some worst hit areas.
This is because many residents were still living in unhygienic conditions three days after last Sunday’s downpour.
Nigerian Tribune  investigations showed that some wells, especially in Lagos, which had been the source of drinking water, and overhead tanks of many households in the Lagos metropolis were overrun by the flood thereby contaminating the water.
Many residents of Aboru in Alimosho Local Government Area expressed worries over the health hazards posed by the prevalent unhygienic conditions in the area after the flood.
When Nigerian Tribune visited some of the worst hit areas by the flood, such as Alabede, Ikola, Raji Rasaki and Akinola,  some inhabitants were seen fetching water from the wells, which had been submerged by the flood and water from the nearby canal.
It was also observed that the water, which was  greenish and emitting some unpleasant odour, was still being used by the residents to carry out their domestic chores, in spite of the health implications of their actions.
Besides, some of the victims who had their foodstuffs destroyed by the flood were making frantic efforts to make the foodstuffs edible.
“We never prepared for this disaster. So we have no choice but to make do with what we have. For instance, where we do we go now to fetch water? Besides, it is not possible to throw out all these materials on the excuse that they have been affected by the flood,” Joyce, a housewife and one of the victims in Alabede Street,  said.
For the rest of the story...visit http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/24973-epidemic-outbreak-looms-in-lagos-as-rain-wreaks-more-havoc-more-dead-bodies-found-nema-confirms-9-deaths-in-katsina

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