Borno malnutrition crisis worse than earlier feared –FG

The Federal Government on Friday said the outbreak of malnutrition in Borno State was worse than earlier reported.

The malnutrition crisis was first brought to national and global attention by the Medecins Sans Frontieres, who reported early July that since May 23, 2016, at least 188 people have died in Bama satellite camp – a ratio of six people per day – mainly from diarrhoea and malnutrition.


The MSF also stated that between June 13 and 15 Nigerian authorities and a non-governmental organisation initiated the evacuation of 1,192 people requiring medical care from the Bama area to the city of Maiduguri, capital of Borno State.

Speaking at a joint press conference of the Federal Ministry of Health and Borno State Ministry of Health, National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi, said the assessment of the situation on ground showed that the case was worse than earlier reported.

He said something should be done urgently as the situation on ground showed that in the next couple of days many people including children probably malnourished behind war lines with Boko Haram might be liberated and add up to number on ground.