International Journal of Recent Scientific Research
Vol. 4, Issue, 4, pp.329 – 334, April, 2013
RELEVANCE AND IMPACT OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING ON FLOOD AND POST-FLOOD MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA: STRUCTURED APPROACH FOR SIMILAR REGIONAL DELTAIC AND COASTAL TERRAINS
*1Egirani, D.E and 2Agbede, I.O
1 Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria
2 College of Engineering, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The relevance and impact of professional counseling on flood and post-flood management
programs in the Niger Delta Region (NDR) of Nigeria has been studied using a structured
questionnaire. It was administered on 600 urban and rural flood victims residing in the
Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The investigation was carried out under several range
condition indices of age, educational level, settlement and mode of flood and post-flood
management administered by relevant disaster management agencies. The analytical study
reveals that 18% of urban and rural respondents believe in professional counseling before
flood and post-flood management programs are administered on victims. The impact of
professional counseling on flood and post-flood management programs is still not felt and
is evidenced by indiscriminate coordination of flood and post-flood management programs.
In addition, victims use their own initiatives to manage flood and post-flood disasters;
rather than waiting on relevant agencies to develop and manage flood mitigation strategy.
The desire for flood victims to return to their homes without proper structural evaluation
and advice requires professional counseling to change the trend. These irregularities could
be attributed to the fact that professional counselors are either not enough or they have not
made themselves available to flood victims. Flood and post-flood management strategy
should be proactive and preventive, aimed at a strategic framework that would address the
health needs of victims. In addition, international treaty and memorandum of
understanding among catchment nations to the River Niger are required for the formulation
of an effective flood management strategy.
Key words: Relevance and impact, professional counseling, flood and post flood, management programs, structured approach, international treaty.
Full text available http://www.recentscientific.com
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