Northeast Nigeria Humanitarian Response: Health Sector Bulletin - February 2025

Highlights:

The governments of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY), together with partners, continue to provide vital support to crisis-affected populations, overcoming multiple layers of barriers and obstacles. Through effective leadership and coordination, the health sector team supports the BAY states in addressing ongoing emergencies through:

Planning and strategy development: The Health Sector Humanitarian Strategy 2025-2027 and the Health Sector Localization Plan, which were developed in conjunction with multiple stakeholders; have been validated. These key documents align with Borno State's health guidance and development initiatives, as well as shared health programs across the BAY States (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe). Its primary goal is to enhance coordination of humanitarian efforts, support the government in addressing the population's health needs and bolstering the health system's resilience. Through an inclusive and participatory process involving the BAY State Ministries of Health, partners, and OCHA, valuable inputs were gathered to ensure the strategy's effectiveness in improving health interventions in the region.

Service delivery support: In response to the partner’s defunding following the Stop Word Order, the health sector adapted its target and financial requirements through strategic prioritization in accordance with OCHA guidance. To support joint advocacy for resource mobilization, an impact assessment tool was developed and deployed to health sector partners across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states. This tool evaluated the effectiveness of USG SWO funding on ongoing activities.

Preliminary findings from the impact assessment indicate:

• 71% of partners (41 out of 58) have been affected.
• 12 partners, including 8 key ones, have been impacted.
• Approximately 1.88 million beneficiaries expected to be affected in 2025.
• The estimated total value of affected ongoing projects is $16.04 million.
• 331 Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities and 55 mobile/outreach teams have had their activities suspended or limited due to the impact. These findings highlight the significant impact of the SWO on health sector activities and the need for continued support for life saving interventions and resource mobilization.

Development of the North-East Public Health Situation Analysis (PHSA): The PHSA for the first half of 2025 highlights the need to prioritize lifesaving interventions due to funding cuts affecting several health partners. To prevent excess mortality and protect human life, the following critical interventions are recommended:

1. Maternal and Child Health Services: Increase access to care for vulnerable populations.
2. Nutritional Support: Implement therapeutic feeding programs, including Stabilization Centers, for children, pregnant, and lactating women.
3. A Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response: Provide clinical management for GBV survivors.
   Immunization Services: Ensure continuous delivery of immunizations to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.
4. Mental Health Services: Increase access to mental health and psychosocial support, including trained professionals and psychotropic medications.

Emergency preparedness and response: Northeast Nigeria is a hotbed for infectious diseases due to a combination of factors, including climate condition and changes, inadequate access to basic services, and conflict-related disruptions. Over the coming months, some of the anticipated public health risks are malaria, cholera, measles, meningitis, Diphtheria and SAM. The health sector will work closely with the government of the BAY states to ensure timely outbreak readiness and response measures are crucial to preventing further morbidity and mortality among the affected population.