MSF, also referred to as Doctors Without Borders, stated that it provided treatment for 3,265 children suffering from malnutrition in Maiduguri, Borno State, between late August and early September, after a sudden increase placed a heavy burden on its resources.
The group revealed this in a statement on Thursday, highlighting that while enrollments have slightly dropped, "the number of children undergoing treatment is still extremely high."
"About a month ago, we saw a concerning rise in hospital admissions, further worsened by an increase in measles cases," said Daniela Batista, MSF Project Coordinator, in the statement.
The group noted that since September 8, its Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre at Nilefa Kiji Hospital in Maiduguri had almost doubled its bed capacity to handle the surge of malnourished children, and by the third week of September, the emergency center was experiencing an average of over 85 new patients each day.
Amidst a decline in global humanitarian funding, certain organizations in Maiduguri scaled back their assistance to, or completely withdrew from, outpatient nutritional programs, leading to a major reduction in access to primary care for undernourished children.
At the MSF extension facility in Shuwari, teams provided treatment to 3,265 children suffering from malnutrition and referred 1,521 others for ongoing care between August and early September, just as the surge started. Over 625 undernourished children have also received treatment for measles — a condition that can lead to malnutrition and whose complications may arise due to poor nutrition.
"The problem is worsened by a lack of necessary supplies. Therapeutic milk, which is vital for addressing severe acute malnutrition, is in short supply, and the availability of ready-to-use therapeutic food continues to be a long-standing issue. Some partner ITFCs have mentioned that they can only take referrals if MSF supplies extra medical items like antibiotics, admission kits, and therapeutic milk," the statement said.
Nigeria is experiencing an escalating humanitarian emergency, especially in the BAY (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe) regions, where ongoing conflict, lack of food, and forced migration have intensified nutritional deficiencies. As per the March 2025 Cadre Harmonisé report, 4.6 million individuals are projected to encounter crisis- or emergency-level food insecurity during the June–September lean period.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs also forecasts that 2.6 million children under five may experience malnutrition in 2025, with one million facing severe acute malnutrition — twice the number reported in 2024.
MSF Project Coordinator based in Maiduguri, Batista, mentioned that the increase in malnutrition was exacerbated by a measles outbreak.
"A month ago, we observed a concerning rise in hospital admissions, further worsened by a spike in measles cases. Our isolation wards for measles patients became full very quickly, and even the extra space we created was soon occupied. Currently, these units are approximately 70 per cent occupied," she stated.
It highlighted that MSF teams also noted consistent patient admissions from Zabarmari — a group they are currently unable to reach because of security and supply chain issues.
MSF is collaborating with the Borno State Ministry of Health to evaluate and possibly assist the local Primary Health Centre, ensuring that residents can receive medical care.
Borno State is still dealing with the consequences of a ten-year-long conflict, as new accounts of violence emerge in regions near Maiduguri.
"This increase in Maiduguri reflects a concerning pattern observed in all MSF nutrition centers throughout Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, and Bauchi in recent months," it mentioned.
MSF urged health officials and aid groups to quickly tackle the lack of medical supplies and personnel, and to enhance local health systems to avoid further decline.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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