Boiled Water Is The Safest Option After Floods - Doctor Aminarh Warns

Medical Practitioner, Dr Christian Aminarh has urged residents in flood-affected communities to boil their drinking water, warning that contaminated water sources could trigger outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases.

Speaking on the Big Convo segment of the Culture Daily morning show on 3Music TV and Pluzz 89.9 FM, Dr Aminarh said floodwaters often contaminate homes, boreholes and food supplies, making untreated water unsafe for consumption.

"The only safe drinking water is to get water and boil it to drink," he said.

His comments come after heavy rains on Monday caused flooding in parts of Accra and other southern communities, displacing residents, damaging property and raising fears of disease outbreaks.

Dr Aminarh said the immediate concerns during flooding are loss of life and destruction of property. However, he warned that another danger emerges after the waters recede.

"The silent wave of conditions that people are at risk of" begins after the flooding, he said, citing cholera, food poisoning and malaria among the main threats.

According to him, floodwaters mix with waste from drains, septic tanks, animal farms and other sources of contamination.

"People are wading in this water. We have children wading in the same water, and this water contains faecal matter and toxic runoff," he said.

The doctor warned that borehole water, often considered a safer alternative to pipe-borne water, could also become contaminated during floods.

"If you have borehole water, it is also contaminated right now," he said.

Ghana has experienced repeated outbreaks of cholera over the years, particularly after heavy rains and flooding. The disease, which causes severe diarrhoea and dehydration, is spread mainly through contaminated food and water.

The Ghana Health Service has repeatedly advised the public to practise good hygiene, drink safe water and avoid eating food exposed to floodwaters to prevent outbreaks.

Dr Aminarh also warned against consuming food that may have been exposed to floodwater or improperly stored during power outages.

"A lot of people are going to experience food poisoning, typhoid and cholera," he said.

He noted that food sellers whose premises were flooded may unknowingly serve contaminated food, increasing the risk of illness.

The doctor advised residents to prioritise hot food and boiled water and to avoid taking unnecessary risks.

His warning comes as authorities continue to assess the impact of the latest floods and step up efforts to prevent disease outbreaks in affected communities.

Health officials have often cautioned that flooding in densely populated urban areas creates conditions for the rapid spread of waterborne diseases, particularly where sanitation systems are weak.