INSURGENCY: 28 Health Workers Killed, 445 Facilities Destroyed

INSURGENCY: 28 Health Workers Killed, 445 Facilities Destroyed

INSURGENCY: 28 Health Workers Killed, 445 Facilities Destroyed
BY VICTOR OKEKE
— Dec 4, 2015 11:18 am | Leave a comment
The federal government is lamenting the health effects of the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east, saying a total of 28 health workers and about 445 health facilities have been destroyed thus far.
Specifically, the government says four doctors have died in Yobe State, two in Maidugiri, Borno State while 152 have been severely injured.
At a review meeting yesterday in Abuja on health sector response to humanitarian crisis in the north-east, a former commissioner of health in Borno State but now Director of Special Projects at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Salma Anas-Kolo said the insurgency has worsened health outcomes in the region.
She said “In Borno, there were 35 medical doctors with the state government in 2011 which increased to 115 in 2013 but currently, only 75 are remaining.”
Dr Anas-Kolo, who is also Head of Reproductive Health with United Nations Population Fund said that Borno has the farthest distance by foot to reach a health facility as most women trek up to two hours to receive care.
“Doctors have been threatened and some have migrated out of Borno while some have lost their sons. 644 properties including vehicles have been lost,” she said.
Also, the Executive Director NPHCDA, Dr Ado Mohammed said the two-day meeting organised in partnership with the government of Japan will provide an integrated approach in responding to the northeast crisis while minimising inefficiency.
“Virtually all the primary healthcare infrastructure in the north-east have been destroyed and it has made it difficult for us to access our children.”