By Sani Surajo Abubakar
A rainy season (also known as a wet season) is a time of the year when the majority of a country’s or region’s annual precipitation occurs. Rainfall is experienced throughout the year in Nigeria, with most significant rainfall occurring from April to October, and with minimal rainfall occurring from November to March.
As predicted by the NiMet (Nigerian Meteorological Agency), this year’s rainy season has set in expectation of heavy downpours and flooding in some communities spread across the country especially those in the coastal areas.
The NiMet’s 2024 rainfall prediction indicated that the rainfall is expected to begin in the first week of April and end in the first week of December. It is also predicted that a delay in rainfall in some parts of the country, especially in the North-Central states. However, other parts of the country are likely to observe normal to above-normal annual rainfall amounts.
In normal circumstances, the rainy season in northern Nigeria if not for the effects of weather and climate change, does set in early June and ceases to stop towards the middle or end of October or in the first week of November as the case may be.
The coming of the rainy season brings succour and reduces the disturbing heat of the dry weather, yet, while the rain can be enjoyable, it also poses certain health risks for people to be cautious of to enjoy the period and tap from its enormous benefits.
One of the health risks that the rainy season comes with is food and water contamination. Watching food and water to use during the season is very crucial as food and other factors may have contaminated the water or food to use.
Careless handling and improper storage of food and water can lead to contamination and bring about illnesses capable of disastrous consequences.
To avert food and water contamination, people need to maintain proper hygiene practices such as washing hands before handling food, thoroughly cooking food, storing perishable items appropriately always consuming freshly cooked food and avoiding eating loosely during the period.
Secondly, the rainy season often increases the mosquito population. It is the period that mosquitoes breed due to the availability of stagnant water and a conducive atmosphere for breeding. The higher the rate of mosquito breeding, the higher the heightening the risk of mosquito-related diseases such as malaria, Zika virus, and dengue fever among others.
For people to protect themselves, they need to eliminate stagnant water around their residences, use mosquito repellants, wear long-sleeved dresses, especially at night, and sleep under mosquito nets. Additionally, people should consider using screens or mosquito nets on windows and doors to prevent mosquito entry.
Waterborne illnesses are caused by recreational or drinking water contaminated by diseases or can be acquired by consuming contaminated food or beverages from contact with animals or their environment, or through person-to-person spread.
During the rainy season, water sources can get contaminated, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases such as Cholera, typhoid, and so on. These diseases are transmitted through contaminated water or contact with infected surfaces.
It is pertinent in reducing the risks of drinking safe, purified water, maintaining good personal hygiene and avoiding playing or working in floodwaters.
Furthermore, one of the health risks that accompany the rainy season is the possibility of increasing respiratory infections, including the common cold, flu and respiratory allergies which can trigger conditions like sickle cell anaemia if care is not taken.
The state of being between a dry and wet (damp) environment promotes the growth of mould, fungi and allergies which in the long run exacerbate respiratory and other related conditions
To overcome or minimize the risk of developing the said infections and other medical conditions, people should maintain good hygiene practices, avoid crowded places if possible, and keep living spaces well-ventilated and free from dampness.
Slip and fall accidents also accompany the rainy season. This is happening on wet and slippery surfaces and accounts for a higher percentage of injuries like sprains, dislocations, fractures, head trauma and other diseases witnessed in such periods.
To reduce the possibility of having slip and fall accidents, people should wear appropriate footwear with good traction, use handrails when available, and walk cautiously on wet surfaces. It is advisable further to keep living and work space areas well-lit and clear of potential hazards and not to step or stroll in flood water, no matter how small.
Another risk that occurs in the rainy season is flooding. Floods occur when water overflows from the normal boundaries of a stream, river or other body of water, or accumulates in an area that is usually dry. The floods usually come with devastating effects as they render many people homeless, and loss of property and to some extent lives.
To avoid the occurrence of flooding, waterways must be cleared and people should desist from erecting structures on waterways and channels for the safety and comfort of habitation at residences, markets, places of worship, and public buildings among others.
Also, drainages should be desilted, and cleared and authorities must ensure the evacuation of refuse and enforce stiffer penalties on recalcitrant who dump refuse in drainages and waterways.
Despite the risks of the rainy season and the ways to avoid them stated above, and with the total and unrelenting commitment of all the stakeholders, people can enjoy hitches hitches-free rainy season and maximally benefit from enormous bounties, bumper harvest and blessings the season brings.
Sani is an Assistant Information Officer, at Government House, Kano
