Floods see more people stream to clinics

MORE and more people displaced by the floods in the Caprivi are arriving at reception centres weak and in need of medical treatment.

Namibia Red Cross Secretary General Razia Essack-Kauaria said yesterday that officials from her organisation have had to accompany a number of people who had to be airlifted to Katima Mulilo to be hospitalised. A medical doctor has now joined the Red Cross team in the region to assess services provided by clinics set up at relocation areas.Following the evacuation of people over the weekend, it is now estimated that almost 3 000 people are being accommodated at relocation camps at Lusese, Kabbe, Schuckmannsburg and Impalila Island.Referring to the high prevalence of HIV-AIDS in the Caprivi, Red Cross relief team leader Abel Augustinio noted that the general health status of people in the region was poor.The flood situation, he said, was not the direct cause of their poor health; rather they were getting weaker as a result of the situation.Augustinio said more people than normal were reporting ill to clinics at the camps.The Red Cross said that from a rapid assessment of the health services at the camps, it emerged that the Ministry of Health and Social Services was managing well in dealing with the ill.The number of malaria cases reported are said to be within the normal range for this time of year under normal conditions.At least 80 per cent of those identified as under immediate threat by the floods are reported to have been moved from their homes.But, Augustinio said, the evacuation was still being hampered by the refusal of some to leave their homes.Nonetheless, he was confident that the second wave of floods, which still has to reach the area, would not affect those not relocated to designated areas of safety.”We are really prepared for that.It might destroy property, but we don’t expect any more people to be under threat,” he said yesterday.The Red Cross said it urgently needed more treated mosquito nets and intended spraying the tents of those accommodated at the reception centres, to avoid new infections.But ensuring that the displaced have safe drinking water remains a concern for the Red Cross.”The most critical need from the Red Cross is to improve access to clean water,” Essack-Kauaria told The Namibian yesterday.Although water tanks have been set up at relocation areas, there is not sufficient sources from which to fill these tanks.In the interim, those being accommodated at reception areas are being provided with water purification agents to clean their water.While the anticipated second wave of floods has not yet reached the eastern Caprivi, the situation in the south-eastern parts around the Ngoma area are increasingly being affected by the large volume of water making it’s way to Lake Liambezi.The Red Cross said that the floods there were affecting food security and property rather than threatening lives.On Saturday the river showed a minimal increase from 6,57 m on Friday to 6,60 m on Saturday as measured at Katima Mulilo.It has now exceeded last year’s peak for 23 days.A medical doctor has now joined the Red Cross team in the region to assess services provided by clinics set up at relocation areas.Following the evacuation of people over the weekend, it is now estimated that almost 3 000 people are being accommodated at relocation camps at Lusese, Kabbe, Schuckmannsburg and Impalila Island.Referring to the high prevalence of HIV-AIDS in the Caprivi, Red Cross relief team leader Abel Augustinio noted that the general health status of people in the region was poor.The flood situation, he said, was not the direct cause of their poor health; rather they were getting weaker as a result of the situation.Augustinio said more people than normal were reporting ill to clinics at the camps.The Red Cross said that from a rapid assessment of the health services at the camps, it emerged that the Ministry of Health and Social Services was managing well in dealing with the ill.The number of malaria cases reported are said to be within the normal range for this time of year under normal conditions.At least 80 per cent of those identified as under immediate threat by the floods are reported to have been moved from their homes.But, Augustinio said, the evacuation was still being hampered by the refusal of some to leave their homes.Nonetheless, he was confident that the second wave of floods, which still has to reach the area, would not affect those not relocated to designated areas of safety.”We are really prepared for that.It might destroy property, but we don’t expect any more people to be under threat,” he said yesterday.The Red Cross said it urgently needed more treated mosquito nets and intended spraying the tents of those accommodated at the reception centres, to avoid new infections.But ensuring that the displaced have safe drinking water remains a concern for the Red Cross.”The most critical need from the Red Cross is to improve access to clean water,” Essack-Kauaria told The Namibian yesterday.Although water tanks have been set up at relocation areas, there is not sufficient sources from which to fill these tanks.In the interim, those being accommodated at reception areas are being provided with water purification agents to clean their water.While the anticipated second wave of floods has not yet reached the eastern Caprivi, the situation in the south-eastern parts around the Ngoma area are increasingly being affected by the large volume of water making it’s way to Lake Liambezi.The Red Cross said that the floods there were affecting food security and property rather than threatening lives.On Saturday the river showed a minimal increase from 6,57 m on Friday to 6,60 m on Saturday as measured at Katima Mulilo.It has now exceeded last year’s peak for 23 days.