Oyo Health Ministry, SEMA Team Up To Prevent Flood Disaster And Cholera Outbreak

Oyo State Ministry of Health and State Emergency Management Agency have teamed up to prevent flood disaster, Cholera Outbreak and other diseases in all the nooks and crannies of the State.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajerunmobi, while paying an official visit to the Administrative Secretary of Oyo State Emergency Management Agency, (OYSEMA), Mrs. Ojuolape Busari on Thursday, said the visit was to discuss the State’s preparedness plan for the flooding diseases and how to establish inter-Agency Collaboration.

The Commissioner, who was represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Babatunde Olaniyan, explained that the focus of the discussion was on preventing flooding and its adverse effects, such as Cholera and displacement of residents, that could lead to sanitation breaches.

She emphasized on the importance of preventing cholera outbreak through proper sanitation and clean water provision.

She further noted that the public health campaigns are being launched to educate communities on hygiene practice, such as proper handwashing and safe food preparation.

In her response, the Administrative Secretary of Oyo State Emergency Management Agency, (OYSEMA), Mrs. Ojuolape Busari provided a comprehensive overview of the State’s emergency preparedness plan.

She hinted that the plan is included flood mapping, early warning systems and community sensitization programme.
She said in case of emergency, OYSEMA has established flood -prone areas to ensure quick evacuation and support.

The focal point of the discussion, and a key strength of the preparedness plan, is the Inter-Agency Collaboration. Both parties underscored the necessity of a robust collaboration between the Ministry of Health and OYSEMA. Regular joint meetings and information sharing were proposed to ensure a coordinated response. A dedicated team comprising members from both parties will oversee the preparedness plan’s implementation, especially the health-related component, further solidifying our united effort.

Also, at the end of their deliberations, the following urgent and significant recommendations were made, underscoring the importance of immediate action: To increase efforts to educate communities on flood risks and preventive measures through local leaders, media, and NGOs.; Ensure adequate resources, such as medical supplies, clean water, and sanitation facilities, are pre-positioned strategically; Implement a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness of the preparedness plan and make necessary adjustments.