Borno flood: MSF urges urgent additional support to curb disease outbreak, malnutrition

By Samuel Luka

Following the recent severe flooding in Maiduguri, Borno state, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has expressed high concerns over the humanitarian situation in the affected state.

A press release made available to newsmen in Bauchi by Abdulkareem Yakubu, Field Communication Officer and Zoe Bennell, Field Communications Manager of the MSF indicated that there is significant risk of outbreak of malaria and waterborne diseases, including cholera in Maiduguri.

The press release which further expressed fears that the humanitarian crisis could increase the level of malnutrition in the affected area, urges urgent additional support, especially in terms of water, sanitation, and medical care, to protect people already heavily impacted by long-term insecurity and unprecedented levels of malnutrition.

It said authorities in Borno has stated that close to 400,000 people have been registered in 30 makeshift displacement sites, adding that most of the sites are schools with too few latrines and a lack of safe drinking water.

“We are very concerned about the precarious living conditions and the potential outbreaks of cholera and malaria”, says Dr Issaley Abdel Kader MSF Head of mission in Nigeria.

“The number of children affected by malaria and acute watery diarrhoea had already started to increase before the flooding, and we have seen some with clinical signs of cholera since the floods”, the press release noted.

It further expressed fears that the number of cases will rise without the increase of medical and humanitarian support, especially regarding water, sanitation and hygiene.

“Last week, MSF teams went to several displacement sites (Galtimari, Yerwa, Ali Sheriff, Vocational Enterprise Institute, Teachers Village) to assess people’s needs and start the provision of essential services such as access to water through water-trucking and water tanks, the installation and repair of latrines, and the distribution of mosquito nets”, MSF said.

The Medecins Sans Frontiers said its teams are also running outpatient consultations in the sites, including mental health support, and referring critical patients to the facilities under their support.

“Given the risks posed by malaria and cholera, MSF is also planning to expand the paediatric facility it supports by 100 beds, to meet the demand of the likely increase in malaria cases.

The press release said MSF teams have begun setting up a cholera treatment centre that can be increased to a 100-bed capacity, if needed.

“The Borno State government has announced the closure and merging of most displacement sites in the coming days”, the release explained.

According to MSF, the teams plan to keep three main sites to accommodate people who still have no place to stay for one more week, and a mass cholera vaccination is upcoming.

It called on parties involved in the humanitarian response to continue providing assistance to the people affected by the floods as long as it will be necessary and ensure immediate and easy access to medical care for those who need it.