In a swift response to the devastating floods that left families bereaved, displaced and homeless in parts of Calabar, the Cross River State Government on Tuesday commenced a comprehensive health intervention, with the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, leading the Ministry’s senior management team to map affected households ahead of the distribution of essential medical supplies and disease prevention support.
The team visited Atu Community, one of the worst-hit areas, where families have been left homeless, grieving and struggling to cope after floodwaters swept through homes, destroyed property and claimed lives. The exercise, conducted on the directive of Governor Bassey Edet Otu, is aimed at identifying every affected household to facilitate the prompt distribution of essential medical commodities and strengthen disease prevention efforts in the aftermath of the disaster.
Addressing residents during the assessment, Dr. Ayuk said the ministry would complete the mapping within days before rolling out health support packages, including mosquito nets, essential medicines and other lifesaving medical supplies to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks among displaced families now living in overcrowded and unhealthy conditions.
“Many people are now cramped into very unhealthy conditions. Following the directive of His Excellency, we are mapping everyone affected so that within the next one week or thereabout, we can support them with the necessary medical commodities, including mosquito nets, drugs and other supplies. They are now exposed to infections such as malaria, and we must ensure that these health risks are addressed without delay,” the commissioner said.
Dr. Ayuk disclosed that the Ministry of Health would work closely with the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency to strengthen services at nearby primary healthcare facilities, ensuring victims have quick access to medical attention while surveillance teams monitor emerging public health concerns. He added that the disaster had reinforced the need for an integrated state policy on flood management, stressing that flooding is not only an environmental challenge but also a major public health emergency requiring coordinated government action.
“We have come here to work. This is a full-strength management team, with each member assigned a specific responsibility. In the next one or two days, we will complete a comprehensive mapping of those affected and ensure that commodities capable of preventing ill health are delivered in the shortest possible time. We are here to reassure the victims that the governor is already taking action, particularly in the area of healthcare,” he assured.
For many residents, however, the statistics of the disaster are deeply personal. Fighting back tears, Mrs. Chinomso Sarah Sunday recounted the unimaginable pain of losing her one-year-old child, who was swept away by the raging floodwaters. She described the tragedy as a life-changing ordeal that has plunged her family into mourning and emotional emptiness, appealing to government and compassionate individuals to come to the aid of affected families struggling to rebuild their lives.
Another victim, Mr. Oscar Awor, narrated the enormous losses suffered by his household, saying the flood swept away virtually all his belongings, leaving his family with nothing to salvage. He lamented that, like many other residents of the community, he had lost household property, personal effects and other valuables accumulated over the years, leaving them vulnerable and uncertain about where to begin again. Awor appealed to the state government and well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of affected families and help them recover from the devastating impact of the disaster.
Even as officials carried out the assessment, Governor Bassey Otu personally reached out to the devastated community by telephone, days after visiting the affected area himself, to reassure residents that they had not been forgotten. Expressing heartfelt sympathy, the governor described the incident as a painful reminder of the growing impact of climate change and assured victims that government would continue mobilising every available resource to ease their suffering.
“I know your state of mind, but I want to assure you that government will do everything possible to mitigate these circumstances and help you out of this situation. What we are seeing now is climate change for real. We prepared for flooding, but not this early or at this magnitude. Government is deeply sorry. We share in your pain completely. Our officials, including the Commissioner for Health who is there with you, will do their very best to support you. God bless all of you. I love all of you, and we will do our very best,” Governor Otu said.
Responding on behalf of the community, Chief Francis Ekpenyong expressed appreciation to the governor and the Ministry of Health for the prompt intervention, describing the visit as a source of hope for residents overwhelmed by the disaster. Ekpenyong described the governor’s reassuring phone call as a remarkable demonstration of compassionate leadership, expressing confidence that the promised assistance would bring relief to affected families as they begin the difficult journey of rebuilding their lives. He also thanked Dr. Ayuk for personally leading the assessment and welcomed the planned distribution of medicines, mosquito nets and other health commodities.
By Kingsley Agim
