Rivers flood kills three in every five children yearly

Brave Dickson

Medical reports have revealed that the yearly flood in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State does kill three in every five children.

The report also revealed that about four in every 10 adults are killed by the annual flood in the area.

A medical practitioner who also took part in the medical findings, Dr Samuel Ojobah told our correspondent that the yearly flood comes with increased malaria, diarrhea and hepatitis A among others.

He said, “our finds have shown that three in every five children and four in every 10 adults die yearly from flood-related diseases in ONELGA.

“The flood comes with increased mosquitoes which are vectors of malaria pathogens.

“Diarrhea attacks mostly children and a lot of these children die as a result of poor medication and malnutrition.

“Borehole, especially in the Ndoni axis of ONELGA which is their major source of drinking water, is highly contaminated by annual flooding.”

The medical expert, therefore, sued for urgent steps to be taken to mitigate the perennial flooding in the area before it consumes more lives.

The flood which comes from the River Niger during the raining season has also been responsible for the crippling of economic activities in the area.