WHO on humanitarian crisis in Nigeria

A WHO emergency health team recently arrived  Maiduguri, Borno State, to assess and respond to the health needs of 800 000 people in the North-East.

A WHO report says it 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  formerly held by insurgency groups.

Estimated mortality rates in some of the areas are four times higher than emergency thresholds.

The rate of severe acute malnutrition is estimated to be 14 per cent.

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.