Gueladio Cisse,Brama KONE,Yao Etienne Kouakou,Nadege Boko,Hampate BA,Duolo Traore, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH), gueladio.cisse@unibas.ch
Abstract
Background: The frequency of extreme weather events associated with climate change, particularly floods, has increased in West Africa. Floods can negatively affect water quality by causing faecal pathogens contamination in riverine cities in West Africa. However, there is a paucity of data showing key vulnerabilities to and resilience strategies for major flooding in riverine cities of West Africa.
Aim: To assess risk factors, vulnerabilities and resilience strategies in the face of flooding events at household and community levels. Methods: Geographical and transversal household surveys have been undertaken in Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire (212,000 inhabitants, near a dam) and Kaédi, Mauritania (71,000 inhabitants, near a river). The household surveys undertaken in rainy season and covering the entire city followed a three category stratified sampling scheme: most vulnerable to floods, most protected, and intermediary (200 households in each).
Results: For Korhogo and Kaédi, respectively, we found 347 and 117 wells in close proximity to streets; 60% and 12% of households have their own wells in the yard; 90% and 69% of households have latrines in the yard; and 63% and 33% of households use water from wells for drinking purposes.
Conclusion: In the two West African cities studied here, flooding threatens on water quality and health, thus, adaptive management strategy for water is needed.