Palpable fears have gripped patients admitted to the General hospital, Lagos as floodwater took over the wards and premises of the hospital.
Reports show that these individuals who were officially checked into the facility to receive care and treatment were gripped by fear on noticing that flood had taken over the hospital.
In a viral video it shows one of the patients shouting “Yes ooo, welcome to Lagos. This is General Hospital, Lagos, everywhere is flooded, even the wards are flooded. River Island re ooo, River General, River GH Lagos”
Efforts to speak with the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi on the development, met a brick wall as he did not respond to series of attempts to communicate with him. He also ignored text messages sent to his mobile phone.
Abayomi had earlier described flooding as a major public health emergency, warning that its impact extends beyond damaged infrastructure to increased disease outbreaks, displacement and disruption of essential services.
He disclosed this in a statement via his official X handle on Friday after visiting flood-affected communities across the state alongside Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, and other government officials.
According to the commissioner, flooding poses significant health risks as floodwaters are often contaminated with sewage, chemicals and other pollutants that can trigger outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
“Flooding is not just an environmental event; it is a public health emergency that affects every aspect of people’s lives,” he said.
He noted that beyond destroying homes and roads, flooding disrupts access to healthcare, schools, workplaces and other essential services, while exposing residents to diseases such as cholera and typhoid, skin infections, injuries, snakebites and electrocution from submerged electrical installations.
Abayomi added that the psychological impact of flooding, including anxiety, uncertainty and emotional distress, could persist long after floodwaters have receded.
He said the effects of flooding are most severe among vulnerable groups, including older persons, children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and persons living with disabilities.
