Federal Ministry of Health has raised the alarm over the present feeding condition in Bornu IDP camps, describing malnutrition crisis in Borno State as worsening, as not less than 750,000 IDPs are in dare need of urgent intervention in the next 90 days.

The representative of Minster for Health who is the National Coordinator of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, Prof. Abdulsalam Nasidi, stated this during a joint press conference in Maiduguri where he feared that at least 5 children will die every hour, adding that the impact on the health status of the population will be high.

Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi said, “The situation here is worsening than what has been reported, so we need to take urgent action to reach the 750,000 persons affected which include children, adults as well as pregnant women within the next three months with food and supplements, including Health care, to avoid multiple deaths in the camps.”

He pointed out “the meeting recognised that except something is done urgently, at least five children will die every hour and the impact on the health status of the population will be high,” Prof. Nasidi said.

He decried that the problem of malnutrition in the camps is worse more than the 250, 000 IDPs earlier reported by the media: what is on ground is far worsening. Many people are still trapped and the situation might be worse than envisaged as military operations continue.

“It was agreed that the figures reported by the emergency team on ground could be representing just a tip of iceberg and thus to prevent further disaster and mitigate the impact of dare situation, a long term multi-sectoral collaboration, integrated approach and coordinated response is required,” Prof. Adulsalami noted.

But reacting, The Borno State Commisoner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mshellia, said it would take months before the malnourished victims recover. He added that recently National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) donated nutritional supplements to the affected children across 22 satellite camps spread all over eight local government areas including Dikwa, Munguno, Bama, Kukawa, Mafa and Gwoza. (Nigerian Pilot)

•Photo shows Prof. Abdulsalam Nasidi.

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