EL NINO
JANUARY 6, 2010
BY EUGENE OMILO
Government officials in Coast province are on high alert to avert any possible disasters that will occur in the region as a result of the ongoing El Nino rains.
Regional commissioner Sospeter Marwa said though no incident of flooding has been reported in the province, disaster management committees in all the districts are on the lookout to deal with any calamities arising from the impending floods.
The commissioner said various rescue teams including firefighters and security agents have been advised to focus more on speedy response in case their services are needed.
“All emergency response departments are ready and our security officers are patrolling various areas to ensure the safety of our people is not threatened,” said Marwa during an interview with yours truly in his office yesterday.
He said several patrol boats are patrolling the Indian Ocean waters from the South all the way to Lamu in the North.
“A police chopper has also been deployed in the area to enhance the patrol,” he added.
He said the patrol has lead to increased security in the area adding that the focus is not just on the El Nino rains but any disaster that may arise.
Provincial Health and Sanitation director Dr. Anisa Omar said all health departments have been supplied with enough anti malaria and anti diarrhea drugs to be used in case diseases associated with floods arise.
“We were prepared since October when the weather forecasters predicted the El Nino rains,” said Dr. Anisa.
She said various health surveillance officers have started chlorinating water sources and preparing weekly reports on disease trends in all public hospitals and health centres in the province.
Rift Valley is the most affected of all the eight provinces with hundreds of residents having been displaced since December last year when the rains began.
The Special Programmes ministry and Red Cross officials have pitched camp in the affected areas to offer humanitarian assistance to victims.
ENDS…
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