A catastrophic flood in Nigeria, its impact on health facilities and exacerbations of infectious diseases

Abstract

Flooding is one type of meteorological occurrence that is becoming more frequent and severe due to global climate change. One-half of all weather-related disasters with significant effects on nations have been recorded to be flooding. Since June 2022, Nigeria has battled the worst flood disaster in over a decade. Extreme rainfall and the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in neighboring Cameroon were the leading causes of the extensive flooding. Worries about disruptions to the food supply have grown as a significant tract of farmland covering at least 340,000 hectares and thousands of kilometers of roads wholly washed away. Further, while the death toll linked to the disaster has surpassed 600 people, existing fragile health infrastructure has been damaged. Despite the efforts and plans put in place by the Nigerian authorities and their partners, the disaster continues to spread to other parts of the country, with reports of casualties increasing daily. It is, therefore, necessary to create highly effective strategies to lessen the impact of disastrous flooding. Long-term and short-term actions should be part of mitigating and preventive measures.