A WHO emergency health team arrived 19 August 2016 in Maiduguri
city to assess and respond to the health needs of 800 000 people in
north eastern Nigeria, formerly held by militant insurgency groups. WHO
is scaling up its emergency response activities, together with partners,
to assist hundreds of thousands of people in desperate need of health
services. More than half of the health facilities in Borno State, the
area most severely affected, are not functioning.
Initial assessments reveal urgent health problems among the
population in 15 local government areas (LGAs) formerly held by
insurgency groups. Estimated mortality rates in some of the areas are 4
times higher than emergency thresholds. The rate of severe acute
malnutrition is estimated to be 14%. In addition, Nigeria last week
reported 2 polio cases in Borno state, 2 years after the last recorded
case in the country. One of the cases is from an LGA that is still
inaccessible to health service delivery, while the other is from a newly
accessible LGA. Measles cases have also been reported in the area,
further complicating a challenging humanitarian environment.
The immediate goal of WHO and its partners is to urgently reduce
the rates of death and disease by rapidly scaling up life-saving health
services. WHO will work closely with local officials and specialist
agencies to address the health risks posed by malnutrition, disease
outbreaks, and long-term lack of access to basic health services.
The working environment in the affected areas is extremely
challenging. Resources and capacities to meet the enormous health
service gaps are grossly inadequate. Insecurity is a major constraint,
with a number of recent attacks on humanitarian staff by insurgents. The
annual wet season is also peaking and there are forecasts of major
floods in the coming weeks. Access to the 15 local government areas
require military escort over long distances on poor roads.
Nonetheless, WHO and its partners are taking immediate steps to
tackle these issues head-on. WHO has already deployed expert staff to
Nigeria for emergency operations, coordination, and data management.
Another team is on the ground in Borno State to help with the polio
outbreak response. The government has already launched emergency polio
vaccination activities, with support from WHO and partners.
The first round of vaccinations will soon be completed, targeting 1
million children. Subsequent large-scale polio immunization rounds are
planned before November. WHO has also dispatched emergency drugs and
supplies, while the organization’s emergency operations will be further
reinforced by an expanded, experienced response team in coming days.
According to Dr Peter Salama, Executive Director of WHO’s Health
Emergencies Programme, "Protracted conflict situations, such as seen in
northern Nigeria – and the surrounding Lake Chad basin countries of
Cameroon, Chad and Niger – are among the greatest threats to health
globally. Not only are they associated with the world’s highest rates of
death among children and pregnant women, they can also be breeding
grounds for infectious diseases and outbreaks – but are too often
neglected by the international community".
WHO's emergency response is built on the Organization’s
long-standing work in Nigeria, supporting the delivery of vital health
services including immunization; maternal, child and neonatal health;
and HIV services. WHO is now scaling up its response with a priority on
life-saving health care, especially disease control, child health and
maternal health. Funding needs for the health sector in Nigeria are
estimated at $25 million as part of the overall 2016 "Humanitarian
Response Plan" which is currently being reviewed with partners in light
of the latest events.
Source: World Health Organization.
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