Ravaging flood in Nigeria will increase mosquito breeding spaces and malaria epidemic in affected states- Francis Nwapa

Ravaging flood in Nigeria will increase mosquito breeding spaces and malaria epidemic in affected states- Francis Nwapa

…..Says Govt. must be committed to complete the Dasin Hausa Dam to control annual flooding caused by cameroon Lagdo Dam.

By Naomisophyblog

#EndMalariaInNigeria is calling on Nigeria Government to step in to mitigate possible surge of malaria epidemic in areas affected by floods.

Malaria is a disease caused by the bite of a female Anopheles Mosquito and transmitted from person to person through mosquito bites. Mosquito breeds on water and can multiply in thousands within 2-3 days depending on the temperature of the water.

The recent flood across the country has provided ample breeding spaces for Mosquito in Millions within communities and it’s end effect is Malaria which averagely kills over 200, 000 people in Nigeria, mostly children below 5 years and pregnant women.

The increase in malaria epidemic occasioned by flooding caused by the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon annually is avoidable. For example, the construction of the Lagdo Dam in Northern Cameroon commenced in 1977 and completed in 1982, with the agreement that Nigeria Government will construct the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State which was meant to be two and half the size of Lagdo Dam, to generate 300 megawatt electricity and also aid irrigation.

Unfortunately, 40 years after the completion of the Lagdo Dam, Nigeria Government is yet to complete the Dasin Hausa Dam, thereby causing annual devastation and malaria epidemic caused by flood. The water from the Lagdo Dam when released, cascade into River Benue, Niger and into coastline states, causing heavy flooding of communities and this in turn increase breeding spaces for Mosquito.

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We call on the Government to match words with action and complete the Dasin Hausa Dam to forestall future occurrence of such flooding, this are some of the areas we feel the Aliko Dangote led board on National Malaria Elimination Council should advise government on.

We advise Federal and State Governments not to deploy just NEMA in situations like this but also Environmental Health experts in finding how to control outbreak of epidemic in affected communities and ensure Malaria mortality in 2022 is reduced.

Francis Nwapa
Convener: #EndMalariaInNigeria
and a professional pest control consultant.