Health Implications Associated with Erosion

According to Ojewale (2003) the health implications are;

         i.            Flooding

       ii.            Disease Infestation

      iii.            Physical disaster

i.              

Flooding

Ojewale (2003) described the term flooding as a situation where a river channel is inadequate to accommodate discharge from the catchments. It can also be regarded as an unusual high rate of water discharge which often lead to river overflow both its natural and artificial banks.

Flooding has become a common feature in all the geographical region of Nigeria in recent time as well as other part of African and the entire world.

ii.) Disease Infestation

He said that land erosion pollute water bodies such river streams and bring about water borne disease such as cholera, typhoid fever, schistosomiasis, dysentery, diarrhoea etc.

Erosion and its association pollution and dirt (refuse), have been veritable factor in the spread of infestation of disease. The pollution of water by soil erosion has consequently made water to be unfit for human consumption. So many attempts made by using the polluted water is always resulting to infestation.

iii.) Physical Disaster: Such disaster include which render victim homeless and causes financial losses to government and residents by way of rehabilitating/reconstruction of victim and damage structure such as roads, buildings, in addition to compensating deceased victims. The ultimate disaster that land erosion wrecked in the killing of human being.

Erosion in Nigeria and beyond has caused a lot of physical disasters. Examples include the collapse of Badage Dan near Kano as reported in National Concord of August 19, 1988; in which 18,000 houses were destroyed and over 10,000 people were rendered homeless.

A global record of devastating effect of erosion has been kept. In November, 1999, it was reported by Guardian News paper that erosion in Vietnam devastated the central province of the region and about 550 people lost their lives and properties worth 200 million dollars.

References

Ojewale, S.A. (2003): Challenges in Primary Health Care Implementation, Conference Paper on EHOAN II. Pp 12.