Doctors Without Borders Treats Over 440,000 Nigerian Children for Malnutrition

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF) has highlighted worsening malnutrition, repeated disease outbreaks, and ongoing maternal health challenges in Nigeria, according to its 2025 Country Activity Report released in Abuja.

The humanitarian organization said that rising food insecurity, conflict, inflation, flooding, displacement, and weak health systems continue to expose millions of Nigerians—particularly children and women—to serious health risks.

The report notes that MSF carried out regular medical projects in ten states—Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, Bauchi, Cross River, and Ebonyi—and established a new operational presence in Kaduna State during the year under review.

According to the report, MSF treated more than 440,000 children with malnutrition in 2025, marking the highest number of admissions recorded by the organization in recent years.

Of those, 353,989 children with severe acute malnutrition received care through outpatient programs, while 90,723 children with complications were admitted to inpatient stabilization centers supported by MSF.

Speaking about the report, MSF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Ahmed Aldikhari, said the figures reflected a growing humanitarian crisis affecting vulnerable communities across northern Nigeria.

“The 2025 data tells a harrowing story. With over 440,000 children put on treatment, it is the year with the highest admissions for malnutrition we’ve had in Nigeria in recent years,” he said.

Dr. Aldikhari noted that malnutrition remains closely linked to recurring diseases such as measles, malaria, diphtheria, and cholera, which continue to spread rapidly in communities with limited access to healthcare services.

The report further showed that MSF treated 341,239 malaria patients, 38,753 measles cases, 6,123 diphtheria patients, and 985 meningitis cases across several states in 2025.

MSF explained that disease outbreaks usually intensify during the rainy season and continue to overwhelm healthcare facilities, especially in underserved and conflict-affected areas.

The organization stressed the need for stronger vaccination campaigns, improved water and sanitation systems, disease surveillance, and timely access to treatment to reduce preventable deaths.

Regarding maternal healthcare, the report noted that Nigeria still records one of the highest maternal and newborn mortality rates worldwide, with many women facing difficulties accessing care due to insecurity, poor transportation, overstretched hospitals, and weak referral systems.

MSF disclosed that it assisted 33,590 deliveries, conducted 119,469 antenatal consultations, and performed 224 fistula surgeries in 2025.

The organization added that many women continue to suffer severe complications from delayed access to emergency healthcare, including severe bleeding, obstructed labor, infections, and high blood pressure‑related conditions.

Dr. Aldikhari called for increased investment in primary healthcare services, staffing, medical equipment, and emergency maternal care, particularly in rural and conflict‑affected communities across the country.