The Abia State Government has conducted a free medical outreach for residents of Ugwueke and Ezeukwu communities in Bende Local Government Area, following the recent flood disaster that affected the communities.
The intervention was aimed at providing immediate healthcare support to residents affected by the disaster and preventing possible health challenges that could arise in the aftermath of the flooding.
Speaking at the exercise, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, sympathised with the people of Ugwueke and Ezeukwu over the impact of the flood.
Governor Otti, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, expressed the state government’s concern over the situation, assuring the affected communities that the government remained committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of residents, particularly in emergency situations.
He said the medical outreach was part of the government’s response to the disaster, noting that providing access to medical care was essential to preventing secondary health challenges that could arise after flooding.
“I want to sympathise with the people of Ugwueke and Ezeukwu over this unfortunate flood disaster. We understand the difficulties the flood has caused, and we are here to ensure that the health of our people is protected,” he said.
He added that the government would continue to respond to the needs of communities affected by emergencies, urging residents to make use of the medical services provided and report any health concerns promptly.
As part of the outreach, residents were attended to by medical personnel, who provided free medical services and health-related support to members of the affected communities.
Also speaking, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Princess Agomuo, while addressing the residents, emphasised the need for increased personal and environmental hygiene following the flood.
She cautioned residents against consuming food or drinking water that may have been contaminated by floodwater, stressing that flooding could expose communities to various health risks.
According to her, residents should properly wash and cook food, avoid foods suspected to have come in contact with contaminated floodwater and ensure that drinking water is safe by boiling it before consumption.
“At this time, you need to be very careful about what you eat and drink. Do not consume food or water that you suspect may have been contaminated by the flood. If you are not sure about the safety of any food, it is better not to eat it, and make sure every water you consume is boiled,”she said.
She also demonstrated the proper method of handwashing, encouraging residents to wash their hands regularly, particularly before eating, preparing food, after using the toilet or coming in contact with potentially contaminated materials.
The Director further advised residents to seek medical attention immediately whenever they noticed symptoms of illness rather than attempting to manage such conditions at home.
“If you notice any form of sickness, please do not wait until it becomes serious before seeking medical attention. Report to the health facility immediately so that you can be properly examined and treated,” she advised.
She also encouraged residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites, especially as stagnant water left behind by the flood could provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
She urged the beneficiaries to sleep under mosquito nets every night, particularly children and pregnant women, as part of measures to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquito nets were equally distributed to families in the affected communities, while health officials educated residents on their proper and consistent use.
Responding, some residents of the affected communities expressed appreciation to the Abia State Government for responding to their plight through the medical outreach.
One of the residents, Mr. Victor Nwaka, said the flood caused significant damage to homes and farmlands, leaving many families struggling to recover from the disaster.
“The flood really affected us. Some of our houses were damaged, and our farms were also badly affected. Many people lost crops and other things they depend on for their livelihood.
“We are grateful that the state government came here to see what we are going through and provide medical assistance,” he said.
Other residents, including the youths described the government’s intervention as timely, particularly because of the health risks that could follow a flood disaster.
They appreciated the Governor Otti for coming to the intervention extended to their communities, saying that, after the flood, they were worried about sickness because of the dirty water and stagnant water around them Thay added that the medical outreach and the health education have been very helpful to them”.
They equally commended the distribution of mosquito nets and urged the government to continue supporting affected families as they recover from the disaster and expressed their support for Governor Alex Otti ahead of the 2027 elections.
The outreach featured health education on disease prevention, personal hygiene and other measures to protect residents from possible outbreaks of waterborne and other communicable diseases associated with flooding.
