The Lagos State Government has intensified disease surveillance in flood-affected communities as part of measures to prevent outbreaks of waterborne and other flood-related diseases following recent flooding across parts of the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this in a statement posted on X after visiting affected communities alongside Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, and other senior government officials.
Abayomi said the Ministry of Health was strengthening disease surveillance in flood-hit communities, promoting safe water and sanitation practices, monitoring for outbreaks of waterborne diseases, and coordinating with other ministries to minimise health risks associated with flooding.
He described flooding as more than an environmental event, saying it is a public health emergency that affects every aspect of people’s lives.
According to him, beyond damaging roads and homes, flooding disrupts access to healthcare, schools, workplaces and other essential services, while forcing many families to lose property, income and, in some cases, their homes.
The commissioner warned that floodwaters are often contaminated with sewage, chemicals and other pollutants, creating ideal conditions for the spread of diseases such as cholera and typhoid. He added that residents also face increased risks of skin infections, injuries, snakebites and electrocution from submerged electrical installations.
“The impact falls hardest on those already most vulnerable: older persons, young children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and people living with disabilities,” he said.
Abayomi said one of the most striking observations during the government’s assessment visit was seeing canoe operators ferrying residents, particularly older persons and people with mobility challenges, across flooded streets.
“While this demonstrates the resilience and ingenuity of Lagosians, it also highlights how deeply flooding disrupts daily life,” he said.
As part of efforts to build a more resilient healthcare system, the commissioner disclosed that the state had developed new healthcare facility blueprints that incorporate climate adaptation and resilience measures tailored to Lagos’ recurring flooding and increasingly severe weather conditions.
He said the facilities would feature low-carbon, naturally cooled designs elevated above projected flood levels, improved drainage systems and green roofs for stormwater management and rainwater harvesting, strict infection prevention measures, and integrated solar power systems to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services during power outages.
Abayomi urged residents to avoid contact with floodwaters whenever possible, drink only safe or treated water, maintain good hand hygiene, switch off electricity before entering flooded homes, and seek prompt medical attention if they experience symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, fever or other signs of illness.
He stressed that addressing the health impacts of flooding requires collaboration between government, communities and residents, noting that protecting public health extends beyond hospitals to creating safer and healthier living environments.
(The Whistler)