By Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The Cross River State Government has launched a comprehensive health intervention for victims of the recent devastating floods in Calabar, with officials beginning the mapping of affected households ahead of the distribution of essential medical supplies and disease prevention materials.
The exercise, which commenced on Tuesday, is being led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, alongside the ministry’s senior management team, following the directive of Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
The team visited Atu Community, one of the worst-hit areas, where many families were left homeless, displaced and grieving after floodwaters destroyed homes, swept away property and claimed lives.
According to Dr. Ayuk, the household mapping exercise is expected to be completed within days to ensure the prompt distribution of mosquito nets, essential medicines and other lifesaving medical supplies to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks among displaced residents.
“Many people are now living in overcrowded and unhealthy conditions. Following the directive of His Excellency, we are mapping everyone affected so that within the next 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 these health risks are addressed without delay,” he said.
The commissioner said the Ministry of Health would collaborate with the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency to strengthen healthcare services at nearby primary health centres, ensuring flood victims receive timely medical attention while surveillance teams monitor possible disease outbreaks.
He stressed that the disaster underscored the need for an integrated state policy on flood management, noting 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.
“Within the next one or two days, we will complete a comprehensive mapping of those affected and ensure that health commodities are delivered as quickly as possible.
“We are here to reassure the victims that the governor is already taking action, particularly in the area of healthcare,” Dr. Ayuk added.
One of the victims, Mrs. Chinomso Sarah Sunday, recounted the heartbreaking loss of her one-year-old child, who was swept away by the flood.
She described the tragedy as life-changing and appealed to the government and well-meaning Nigerians to support affected families.
Another resident, Mr. Oscar Awor, said the flood destroyed virtually all his belongings, leaving his family with nothing to salvage. He appealed for urgent assistance to help victims rebuild their lives.
In a show of solidarity, Governor Bassey Otu telephoned members of the affected community, days after personally visiting the flood-ravaged area, to reassure residents that they had not been forgotten.
The governor described the disaster as a painful reminder of the growing effects of climate change and pledged that the state government would continue to mobilise resources to ease the suffering of victims.
“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 thanked Governor Otu and the Ministry of Health for the swift intervention, describing the visit as a source of hope for residents affected by the disaster.
He also commended Dr. Ayuk for personally leading the assessment exercise and welcomed the planned distribution of medicines, mosquito nets and other essential health commodities to vulnerable families.
