Imo begins fumigation of 23 flood-affected communities

Posted by admin Headlines, Imo, State News Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

TO prevent an outbreak of diseases, the Imo State government has begun fumigation of 23 communities ravaged by flood last year.

The State Chairman of Flood Management Committee and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Obi- Njoku, is leading in the exercise.

Obi- Njoku said the exercise was necessary in view of the rising high cases of snake bite, malaria, typhoid, cholera, measles among others. He disclosed that 12 communities in Ohaji/Egbema and three communities in Oguta had so far been fumigated.

Regrettably, the commissioner was shocked yesterday when he heard that out of the 23 communities earmarked for exercise in the two councils: Ohaji / Egbema and Oguta, Abacheke community in Egbema allegedly resisted, warning the team not to spray any chemical within the vicinity. They refused to listen to Njoku’s and the Managing Director of the Fumigation Company, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim’s explanation that the chemicals were human and environmentally-friendly. He said even after three months, the efficacy of the chemical could still be retained.

In addition to the fumigation exercise, the state government said it would intervene in financial rehabilitation to assist them in their businesses and farming, adding that building of development centres would be done to enable the victims quickly have refuge in case of similar ugly incident.

Responding, two youth leaders in the affected communities, of Nnebukwu and Osorbodo, Mr. Chidi Okonkwo and Mrs. Regina Ogbo respectively, commended the effort of government, regretting that communicable and other diseases occasioned by the last year flood in the area had led to loss of lives in the area.

-Guardianwp_posts