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The Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa)
NEWS
December 10, 2006
Posted to the web December 11, 2006
Addis Ababa
Up to 1.8 million people are at risk from cholera, measles, malaria and other killer diseases following major floods across the Horn of Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.
The United Nations Agency said it continues to be deeply concerned over the health situation of people living in the flood affected areas in the Horn of Africa. "Since October, unusually heavy rains have caused major flooding in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. The flooding is expected to continue, putting people's health at major risk," WHO said in a press release sent to The Daily Monitor on Friday. At least 150 people have been killed and more than 1 million displaced by the worst floods for years across the region. According to Dr David Okello, Representative of WHO in Kenya, the near future holds more floods for the region where water-born diseases such as malaria will become a very serious problem. "The floods are expected to continue until at least the end of December if not into early next year. We are already experiencing a serious situation where people are dying from diseases related to the water and sanitation situation. Malaria will become a very serious problem in the weeks to come," he said in the statement. According to WHO, the three countries (Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia) share similar health profiles. "In Ethiopia, some 40 000 cases of acute watery diarrhoea have been reported, including 403 deaths. In Somalia, one hundred cases have occurred, particularly in children under five years of age. Insecurity in Somalia is escalating and people fleeing the conflict are seeking refuge in Kenya. This will sharply increase the number of people living in camps and increase the potential for health risks," the statement said. The region is known to be endemic for many health problems, including cholera, diarrhea, malaria, shigellosis, Rift Valley fever, measles, meningitis and malnutrition. Many health indicators are worryingly low, including vaccination coverage rates. A key WHO concern, the statement said, is the major gap in outbreak preparedness. "The region lacks laboratory capacity for confirmation of epidemic-prone diseases and stockpiling of emergency medicines and equipment. No isolation facilities have been identified while the health facilities have poor infection control," it said.
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