Nigeria is reportedly experiencing its worst humanitarian crises in a long while. This unending conflict which has lasted over a decade have left dire consequences on the lives and wellbeing of most citizens in the country. Statistically, over 8.4 million people have been described as needing immediate humanitarian assistance as a result of the recurrent crisis that has claimed about 27,000 lives and displaced at least 2.2 million people, mostly women and children. Similar to the numerous conflicts experienced, women and children have been the major collateral damages. Since the commencement of this conflict in 2009, thousands have been reportedly abducted and many more, victims of gender-based violence such as sexual violence, assault and trafficking. Families battling poverty have resorted to child marriage and labour, with children being forced into armed groups or carrying explosives.
Asides this violence-induced crisis, Nigeria has also been exacerbated by heavy rainfall and flooding, causing over 4.1 million people to be victims of hunger and malnutrition due to the immense food crisis. In fact, OCHA predicts that over 1.74 million children under 5 years old would likely suffer from acute malnutrition and about 300,000 people facing severe malnutrition and a high death risk, if they do not receive medical care urgently. The situation in Nigeria has been so crucial, with most citizens trapped within cases of conflict, poverty, food crisis and climate change. States like Borno have in fact become the epicenter of these violent attacks. In these violence-ravaged regions, citizens and aid groups are consistently attacked, making the process of humanitarian assistance cumbersome.
Mental health and psychosocial support enacted to help victims of trauma.
Reports suggest that Doctors Of The World (DotW) has been lending their supports to 8 different health clinics across Northern Nigeria, providing free primary healthcare services to about 265,751 recipients, 50 percent of who are internally displaced. The DotW Medical and Supervisory team have focused their efforts on the provision of consultations, clinic repairs and building capacity via providing various equipment and training. The DotW team has a total of 75 healthcare members, including 30 community mobilizers presently. One of the team’s primary goal was shaped to enforce the surveillance of communicable diseases by enacting the implementation of early warning and alert response to these outbreaks. DotW in 2021, reported about 27,556 cases of Malaria, 16,488 diarrhea cases and 20,000 cases of acute respiratory infections. With the provision of lifesaving services, zero mortality rate was recorded across the team’s clinics.
DotW in its humanitarian program in Nigeria, also enacted the implementation of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support to help victims of stress and trauma in the crisis. The MHPSS was saddled with providing mental health consultations for victims of less severe cases of mental health issues. In all, 52,111 people were said to have taken part in the MHPSS service, from both the host and IDP communities. Victims of severe mental, neurological and substance used conditions also benefitted heavily from the mental health consultations by psychiatric clinicians who had been trained on the Mental Health Global Action Programming, until their symptoms were treated in line with WHO’s recommendation.
Violence and poverty hinders women from access to sexual healthcare.
Reports suggest that the constant violence and poverty that has ravaged states like Borno have contributively hindered women’s access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. DotW in response, created numerous sexual and reproductive healthcare programs to cater for the pregnant and lactating women, as well as collaborating with midwives and community mobilizers to ensure that these programs were heard. Upon the help of local partners who further emphasized the necessity of Antenatal care and follow-up consultations, the team’s clinics witnessed a significant increase in mothers’ attendance. 14,976 consultations were provided between 2020 and 2021, as well as the distribution of kits for the mothers and their post-natal care consultancies. Also, educational workshops were provided to raise awareness on birth preparedness and the dangers of home delivery.
In states where conflict is concentrated, rape and violence against women have been used by insurgent groups, especially the Boko Haram. Female vulnerability is exploited and they become victims of abduction, coerced marriage, and captivity. A lot of women deal with these physical and psychological traumas with little or no access to healthcare services. DotW has however provided a two tier approach to gender based violence— the provision of healthcare and the development of community projects to prevent these cases in the future. DotW was able to provide medical assistance for 872 GBV survivors, whilst also enhancing consultation rooms for more privacy and comfort for the victims. By the implementation of different awareness and protection schemes, the team was able to work with community members to further ensure a prevention of future GBV cases.
DotW improves access of malnourished children to quality nutrition.
The access of malnourished children to quality nutrition and treatment was another major feat accomplished by the DotW. Upon screening 33,265 children for malnutrition, 1152 were enrolled for a 6-week treatment program from Severe Acute Malnutrition, where they received all necessary medical assistance. Also, DotW got to collaborate with stakeholders, as well as engaging with community members via meetings and focus group discussions, in a bid to lessen the risk of child malnutrition. The program was reported to have successfully passed the message across to over 32,000 people, both at the host community and IDP communities.
Related Link
Crisis Group: Website
Nigeria’s conflict leave many in need of aid – DotW lends their support to 8 health clinics across northern Nigeria. – Express your point of view.
We need serious help in our country. There is need to aid the less privileged. A lot of problem are the bedeviling us and we really need to tackle these problems head on.
It’s quite upsetting to hear that Nigeria is apparently going through one of the biggest humanitarian crises it’s seen in a very long time.
The ongoing hostilities, which have already lasted for more than a decade, have had a devastating impact on the lives and well-being of the vast majority of people living in the country.
Women and children have been the primary victims of collateral damage in a majority of the countless conflicts that have been experienced.
Since the beginning of this war in 2009, it has been reported that thousands of people have been kidnapped, and many more have been victims of gender-based violence such as sexual assault, trafficking, and other forms of abuse.
The focus of the activities of the DotW Medical and Supervisory team has been on the provision of consultations, the repairs of clinics, and the building of capacity through the provision of various pieces of equipment and training.
Children are being coerced into armed organizations or made to carry bombs because families who are struggling to make ends meet are resorting to practices such as child marriage and child labor.
As part of its humanitarian program in Nigeria, DotW has also begun implementing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in order to assist people who have been traumatized or stressed out as a result of the situation.
Thousands of people have reportedly been kidnapped since the start of this crisis in 2009, and many more have been the victims of gender-based violence such sexual assault, trafficking, and violence against women.
Nigeria’s conflict leave many in need of aid. The country is really suffering, many people need help in this country Nigeria.
There is too much hardship in this country I just don’t understand. People are suffering from poverty and also battling to survive the humanitarian crisis. This is overtly outrageous.
The situation in Nigeria has been so crucial, with most citizens trapped within cases of conflict, poverty, food crisis and climate change etc. Approaches that need to be taken to prevent all this mess should be taken. In all we need God’s intervention, it’s really beyond imaginations.
DotW has done a lot in impacting lives and I believe will do more clinical support across north Nigeria.
The majority of the country’s population has been devastated by the more than a decade-long war.
This nation suffers from far too much misery, which I find incomprehensible. People are struggling to endure the humanitarian crisis while simultaneously dealing with poverty. This is obviously absurd.
Many conflict is happen in this country which need different kind of help on it, shortage of food, inflation and so on we are facing alot on this country
The situation in our country is dire and requires immediate attention. Helping those in need is essential. There are a number of issues that have been vexing us, and we need to deal with them head on.
Most Nigerians live in conflict, poverty, food shortages, and climate change. Preventing this mess requires action. It’s unimaginable that we need God’s help.
The issue of insecurity in the country has plunge many people into poverty which are not avoidable but it is very painful.
The conflict on going in the country has left a lot of people wound, homes bastardized and families deserted in the northern part of the country. Thank to DotW who are lending their support to 8 health clinics across northern Nigeria.