Concerning the possibility of malaria and cholera outbreaks in Maiduguri, where extreme flooding has uprooted 400,000 people and killed 24, Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF, has issued an alert.
The group issued a warning, stating that in the absence of immediate medical attention and humanitarian aid, the situation might get worse, with a rise in the rate of starvation and a quick spread of waterborne illnesses throughout the impacted areas.
The widespread flooding that has devastated large areas of the city has raised serious concerns about the increased risk of malaria and waterborne diseases, particularly cholera, according to a statement released on Saturday by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Communication Officer, Abdulkareem Yakubu.
It also issued a warning that the scenario might make the malnourishment in the impacted areas worse.
“We are very concerned about the precarious living conditions and the potential outbreaks of cholera and malaria,” states Dr. Issaley Abdel Kader, Head of Mission for MSF in Nigeria, according to a portion of the statement.
Before the flooding, the number of children suffering from acute watery diarrhea and malaria had begun to rise, and since the floods, we have seen some exhibiting clinical indications of cholera.
“We fear that in the absence of increased medical and humanitarian support, particularly in the areas of water, sanitation, and hygiene, the number of cases will rise.”
According to MSF, its teams visited a number of displacement sites, including Teachers Village, Yerwa, Ali Sheriff, Galtimari, and Vocational Enterprise Institute, to assess the needs of the local population. From there, they began providing basic services like mosquito net distribution, latrine installation and repair, and water trucking to provide access to water.
At the locations, teams are also providing outpatient consultations, including psychiatric
