PREVENTING MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY DUE TO FLOOD IN BANGLADESH
Bangladesh is considered by recent studies as possibly one of the most flood-prone countries in the world. Basically, this could be attributable to its geographic location. It is located in the Ganges Delta which makes the area like to be covered with water especially when monsoon season comes and in instances where the river level rises from the melting caps from the Himalayas. (Ahmed 2001, 803) The floods in the said country have been very devastating as seen in the 1997 and in the early part of 2007. These constant flash floods affect the living conditions in Bangladesh immensely. Aside from the morbidity and mortality rate’s initial surge in the instance of these flash floods, it continues to swell as the longstanding effects of the water condition is felt in the country’s agriculture and environment.
To this effect, it is imperative that the water conditions in Bangladesh are controlled and flood management becomes a concerted effort with the state’s key agencies. For instance, reports have indicated that structural measures are placed for flood management. These are reflected in projects like the embankments along the major rivers in the area; polders and other minor protection measures; and submersible embankments. (Thompson and Sultana 1996, 1) In the same regard, these structural measures may not be able to hold off the flood without the collaboration of the non-structural measures of the government. As the term implies, these non-structural measures are covered by the state’s Flood Forecasting and Warning System. The measures included in this area include weather forecasting and the management of flood monitoring stations all over Bangladesh. (Leaf 1997, 179)
The conditions surrounding the case of Bangladesh in the recent floods and the management of the recent consequences of the said crisis should be considered. With the presentation of the prevention measures and the structures built by the state, it is also deemed imperative to take consideration on the consequent measures take by the state after the flash floods. Specifically, the relief assistance carried out by the government as well as the civic society in Bangladesh should be taken into account. (Paul 2003, 2003) It is the presentation of the prior and the post activities carried out by the relevant agencies in the country that establishes the initiatives that manifests the intentions to minimize the effects of morbidity and mortality in Bangladesh.
Integration of these activities constitutes what the state and the public takes on to cover the adverse implications of floods in the country. Analysis on the manner of integration and the level of participation of all areas of Bangladesh society will be considerably supportive in the sustainability of the flood management schemes and disaster management initiatives in the country. The use of traditional and technical considerations should also be established in the process. The melding of these two areas will not only address the flood problems of the nation but also take on measures that deal with the consequent poverty issues in the country. The ability of the government and the public to help improve their situations provided by the flood crises indicates how they country could consequently prevent the morbidity and mortality that tags along these catastrophic events.
References
Ahmed, I. (2001) “Governance and Flood: Critical Reflections on the 1998 Deluge.” Futures. pp803.
Leaf, M. (1997) “Local Control versus Technocracy: The Bangladesh Flood Response Study.” Journal of International Affairs. 51(1), 179.
Paul, BK. (2003) “Relief Assistance to 1998 Flood Victims: A Comparison of the Performance of the Government and NGOs.” The Geographical Journal. 169(1), 75.
Thomspon, P. and Sultana, P. (1996) “Distributional and Social Impacts of Flood Control in Bangladesh.” The Geographical Journal. 162(1), 1.
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