Extreme Floods in Africa
Ugandan Kumi Hospital needs safe drinking water and emergency supplies
The extreme rains over the last weeks have been affecting many parts of Uganda. A CBM-supported orthopaedic hospital in Kumi is right in the middle of it. It now lacks safe drinking water and emergency supplies for children with disabilities and their families.
Kumi Hospital serves exactly the most affected regions with medical care, providing orthopaedic and reconstructive services for more than 3.5 million people in the North East from Tororo up to Katakwi/Moroto. Especially in the eastern and northern districts of the country floods have destroyed lives, properties, and harvests. One of the most effected regions is the Teso land, and the districts of Kumi, Soroti, Serere, Katakwi, and Amuria.
Kumi Hospital serves exactly the most affected regions with medical care, providing orthopaedic and reconstructive services for more than 3.5 million people in the North East from Tororo up to Katakwi/Moroto. Especially in the eastern and northern districts of the country floods have destroyed lives, properties, and harvests. One of the most effected regions is the Teso land, and the districts of Kumi, Soroti, Serere, Katakwi, and Amuria.
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- The flood has reached the pump house, and the engines are in danger to be submerged. If this happens, access to safe drinking water of patients in Kumi hospital is at stake. © CBM
Lack of safe drinking water
Kumi Hospital receives its safe running water from 8 km distanced Lake Bisina.
The flood puts the supply of safe drinking water at stake: Although the daily increase in the level of the lake has reduced, the danger that the water will overflow the pump is still present. At the moment it increases approximately 5cm per day. The wall around the pump still reserves 20cm above water level. In the next three days, the engines will have to be removed, and the supply of drinking water will stop.
The flood puts the supply of safe drinking water at stake: Although the daily increase in the level of the lake has reduced, the danger that the water will overflow the pump is still present. At the moment it increases approximately 5cm per day. The wall around the pump still reserves 20cm above water level. In the next three days, the engines will have to be removed, and the supply of drinking water will stop.
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- Matthias Widmaier-Maicher works in Kumi, Uganda, since November 2003 as coordinator for Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR). © CBM
Danger of disease outbreaks
Some regions like Katakwi, parts of Soroti, and Amuria are completely cut off from the southern regions. „Many families of our clients with disability lost their homes, properties, and harvest“, reports Matthias Widmaier-Maicher, CBM Programme Manager at Kumi Hospital. “Others who live close to swamps expect an epidemic malaria outbreak. Many people will face most likely typhoid and cholera. Transport to health units and hospitals is hardly possible.”
Need of food, blankets and medical treatment
According to reports of community fieldworkers many disabled clients, which are registered with Kumi Hospital, are affected. Immediate action is needed for the sake of families with disabled children:
If you wish to support CBM’s work in Africa, please visit our donation page.
- to provide more mosquito nets
- to provide drinking water
- to provide food
- to provide mattresses
- to provide blankets
- to help to rebuild huts and houses
- to provide access to medical treatment
- to help with the replacement of seed and food stocks for the next season
If you wish to support CBM’s work in Africa, please visit our donation page.
Extreme Floods in Africa
East and West Africa currently faces unprecedented floods, especially Uganda, Ghana, Togo and Sudan are worst hit.
For further information visit:
Alertnet.org Website
For further information visit:
Alertnet.org Website
