Flooding: MSF raises alarm over rising malnutrition cases in northern Nigeria

Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF, has raised concerns implicit a surge successful malnutrition cases among children successful bluish Nigeria, peculiarly successful flood-affected regions specified arsenic Borno and different northeastern states.

MSF expressed interest that, contempt it being harvest play successful the region, the fig of malnourished patients admitted to hospitals continues to emergence crossed healthcare centres wherever they supply services.

In a property connection signed by MSF International President , Dr. Christos Christou, the organisation noted that, contrary to expectations, malnutrition cases are not decreasing astatine this clip of year.

“This year, erstwhile we would typically spot a alteration successful admissions, the fig of malnourished patients is not going down. Worse, the conditions successful which they get are adjacent much severe,” the connection read.

MSF highlighted that galore radical deficiency entree to basal aesculapian attraction and often cannot spend proscription to scope aesculapian facilities, resulting successful delayed treatment.

Dr. Christou besides explained that galore organisations that antecedently supported the region, including Maiduguri, person scaled backmost oregon ceased their operations owed to backing constraints.

“Over caller years, MSF has witnessed a important surge successful malnutrition admissions, with cases successful 2022 and 2023 already critically high.

“From January to August this year, we recorded a 51% summation successful admissions of children with terrible malnutrition compared to the aforesaid play past year.

“In the archetypal 8 months of this twelvemonth alone, MSF treated 52,725 children for terrible malnutrition crossed Northern Nigeria, ” helium stated.

Also, MSF pointed to the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, specified arsenic measles, which remains a starring origin of kid mortality successful Nigeria.

“Between January and August, we treated implicit 12,500 measles cases, astir treble that of the aforesaid play past year,” Christou revealed.