World Health Organization, WHO, says heavy rainfall, flooding, increased cases of Malaria, Cholera, Rift Valley Fever, will be experienced in Nigeria this year. A report recently released by WHO says a climatic condition known as El Niño which is the warming of the Central to Eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, affects rainfall patterns and temperatures most intensely in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.

The report adds that severe drought, flooding, heavy rains and temperature rises are all known effects of El Niño that can lead to food insecurity and malnutrition, disease outbreaks, acute water shortages, and disruption of health services. The health implications are usually more intense in developing countries like Nigeria.

“The current El Niño from 2015 to 2016 is predicted to be the worst in recent years, and comparable to the El Niño in 1997-1998, which had major health consequences worldwide. In Eastern Africa, as a result of the El Niño in 1997-1998, WHO found that rainfall patterns were unusually heavy and led to serious flooding and major outbreaks of malaria, cholera and Rift Valley Fever” the report states.