STAGNANT WATERS FUEL MALARIA OUTBREAK IN MAIDUGURI. CHOLERA LOOMS, WARNS MSF

Nigeria – The recent floods in Nigeria’s Maiduguri region have sparked a public health crisis, with a notable surge in diseases like malaria and cholera. Stagnant floodwaters have become prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes, causing a sharp rise in malaria cases, especially among vulnerable groups like children.

Karsten Noko, the Nigerian Director for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), reports that clinics are seeing a 70% positivity rate for malaria, placing severe strain on the already limited local healthcare resources.

“Since the flooding, whenever we consult clinics, the positivity rate for malaria is about 70%. Normally, we see about 200 people in one clinic, and we have at least three or four different clinics each day. So, you can imagine the number of people affected by malaria.

“Particularly for young children, the impact of malaria is quite severe, and many of them tend to need intensive care units for quite some time to allow their bodies to fight back.”

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Meanwhile, cholera and other waterborne diseases are raising increasing alarm as floodwaters have tainted many of the region’s once-safe drinking water sources. Noko noted that the shortage of clean water is amplifying the threat of widespread cholera outbreaks, with early indicators such as acute watery diarrhoea already appearing in affected areas.

“We are already starting to see a lot of patients coming to us with acute watery diarrhoea, which is normally an early indication of cholera that is to come.”

Pre-existing Difficulties Exacerbated by the Flood

Before the floods, the Maiduguri region was already battling severe food insecurity and malnutrition. Noko emphasised that local health facilities were overwhelmed by child malnutrition well before the disaster struck.

The flooding has only worsened the crisis, destroying crops, livestock, and food supplies. With thousands of families displaced and cut off from essential resources, the region is now facing an even more severe humanitarian crisis.

“The number of patients was going down steadily before the flooding came, but now, with the flooding, whatever food people were starting to harvest from their farms, or whatever food stores some people had, was suddenly destroyed in a couple of hours.”

“Whatever crops, chickens, goats, or cattle people had are now suddenly unavailable. We are starting to see, in our nutrition hospital, that the number of cases is beginning to rise again.”

As such, the region is facing immense pressure from severe food shortages, a surge in mosquito and waterborne diseases, and a lack of access to clean water. Immediate international aid is critical to address urgent health and nutritional needs and prevent further life loss.

Without swift intervention, the crisis could spiral into a catastrophic situation, further complicating relief efforts. People are strongly encouraged to support relief efforts by donating to organisations like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and other humanitarian groups working tirelessly on the ground.