Afrigather Abuja – Borno state, in northeastern Nigeria, has been severely impacted by current floods, which have displaced greater than 400 000 folks and led to 37 deaths. The flooding, largely affecting the municipal space of Maiduguri, the state’s capital, has additionally brought on vital harm to agricultural land and infrastructure, together with well being amenities. Nearly 90 000 susceptible folks have been compelled to take shelter in short-term camps with restricted entry to meals, clear water and well being companies.
Displaced populations are at particularly excessive threat from malnutrition, and illnesses corresponding to cholera, malaria and measles, in a area the place already fragile well being methods are underneath appreciable extra pressure.
Aisha Mafa, a mom of 5, relocated to Gubio camp on the outskirts of Maiduguri, after floods displaced her household from their dwelling in Outdated Maiduguri district in September 2024. Quickly afterwards, one in every of her kids fell ailing with a excessive fever. “My associates suggested me to take him to the clinic on the camp, the place companies had been free,” Mafa remembers.
Recognizing the pressing well being wants of displaced folks, World Well being Group (WHO), with monetary help from USAID and the Authorities of Germany, deployed 5 cellular well being groups comprising 35 public well being specialists, to help native well being authorities in Gubio, in addition to 4 different short-term camps in Maiduguri municipal space.
The well being employees rapidly recognized Mafa’s son with malaria and supplied remedy. Inside days, his situation has improved. “With out the well being employees, I don’t know what would have occurred to my son,” Mafa says. “I take consolation to know that my kids and I can get free well being companies right here.”
“Since we began, we’ve handled round 9000 folks,” says Martha Sini, the Native Authorities Space Facilitator for the cellular well being crew in Gubio camp, which is presently dwelling to greater than 36 000 displaced folks. “Routine immunization, maternal care and medical companies are important for safeguarding the well being of the group, particularly girls and youngsters.”
Kids in short-term camps like Gubio are at significantly excessive threat from vaccine-preventable illnesses. To deal with this, cellular well being groups have carried out common vaccination drives, reaching over 12 300 kids because the begin of the floods in mid-September 2024. Vaccines embody these really helpful within the present state routine immunization schedule and protection consists of kids who’ve missed doses due to being displaced.
Such efforts have been built-in into the state authorities’s present cholera, measles and vitamin A vaccination campaigns, making certain extra complete safety for these susceptible populations.
Maternal well being is one other key focus for the cellular well being groups. In Gubio camp’s two-room clinic, well being groups present prenatal check-ups, postpartum care, routine immunization and dietary help to pregnant girls whereas educating them on the significance of expert beginning attendance. Because the begin of the floods, these companies have been integral to serving to to make sure protected pregnancies and deliveries for over 20 000 displaced girls within the absence of hospital entry.
Huawa Ali, who’s seven months pregnant and was displaced by the floods from her dwelling within the Gwange district of Maiduguri, is likely one of the many well being shoppers to go to the antenatal clinic. “I’m so grateful for this care. With out it, I wouldn’t have identified if my child was protected. Now, I really feel extra assured about my being pregnant,” she says.
Past instant medical care, WHO additionally helps Borno state in enhancing surveillance actions. Over 150 group well being volunteers have been deployed to conduct lively case discovering for precedence illnesses and house-to-house sensitization to enhance health-seeking behaviour throughout the camps and host communities.
Thus far, 34 camps and over 93 000 households have been reached and sensitized on preventive measures for epidemic-prone illnesses and good family practices.
“For the households in short-term camps, the presence of our cellular well being groups presents extra than simply medical care, it gives hope for a more healthy future, for his or her kids’s well-being, and hope that they’ll overcome the challenges of displacement,” says Dr Walter Mulombo, WHO Consultant for Nigeria.
