As the number of cerebrospinal meningitis cases surges across Nigeria, displaced persons in Borno State say more children are falling ill every day and they fear for their lives.

As the number of cerebrospinal meningitis cases surges across Nigeria, displaced persons in overcrowded camps in Borno State say they fear for lives of their children.

Their children are doubly susceptible to all kinds of disease outbreaks, they say, because of the lack of functional healthcare facilities in internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camps.

Peak meningitis season

Jide Idris, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), said the latest meningitis figures indicated a surge in infections, with 807 suspected cases and 74 deaths reported across 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as of March 26.

“We are in the peak meningitis season and the risk of transmission is high due to dry, dusty weather and overcrowding,” he said. “The government is intensifying vaccination efforts, but public awareness and early detection remain crucial in preventing fatalities.”

Idris said meningitis is a deadly but preventable infection of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include severe headaches and high fever, neck stiffness, vomiting and confusion, sensitivity to light and seizures in severe cases.

The infection spreads through coughing, sneezing and close contact, making overcrowded areas, such as schools and IDP camps, high-risk zones.

Without urgent treatment, meningitis can lead to brain damage, hearing loss or death within hours.

Idris urged residents to seek medical attention immediately if they experienced any symptoms.

He appealed to parents and community leaders to ensure that children and at-risk individuals got vaccinated.

“The government is intensifying vaccination efforts, but public awareness and early detection remain crucial in preventing fatalities.”

Affected states

Affected states are Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, Ebonyi, Oyo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kaduna, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Ekiti, Niger, Plateau, FCT, and Sokoto.

“Kebbi, Katsina and Sokoto states have recorded the highest number of suspected cases and deaths, necessitating urgent intervention,” Idris said.

Rapid response teams

Idris said the NCDC had deployed rapid response teams (RRTs) to the hardest-hit states.

“These teams are working with state governments to conduct mass vaccination campaigns in high-risk areas, strengthen case surveillance and laboratory testing, provide free treatment for confirmed cases at government hospitals and launch public awareness drives to educate citizens on prevention,” he said.

Vaccination remained the most effective protection against meningitis.

Lack of healthcare facilities

Kolo Alhaji, 36, who lost her daughter to meningitis three years ago, said the lack of healthcare facilities in the Central Primary IDP camp in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State was “extremely concerning”.

Kolo has been taking refuge in the camp for the past eight years.

“The weather is extremely hot and the camp is very congested. In the afternoons and evenings our children suffer a lot. They cry when it is so hot but there is nothing we can do to help them.”

Kolo said there were many sick kids in the camp.

“They need medical attention but we keep them at home because there is no clinic in the camp and most of us do not have money to take them to hospitals or clinics outside.

“Many of the kids have disturbing symptoms. We want to take them to hospital so they get proper treatment but we just do not have money to do so.

“I lost my daughter to meningitis three years ago; I do not want to lose more children.”

Aisha Modu, a mother of four, said that in the past three weeks, many more children in the camp had fallen ill.

“As the weather deteriorates and it gets hotter, more children are getting sick each day.

“Two of my kids fell ill three days ago and are still suffering because I cannot afford to get proper medical attention,” she said. “People rush to get under the few trees in the camp for shade in the afternoon because the tent absorbs heat and we can’t stay inside.

“In almost every household there is a sick child these days and only a few can afford to take their kids for proper treatment outside camp. The majority of us resort to traditional medicine to treat our kids.”

No humanitarian aid

Mohammed Kangadi, the deputy chairman of Central IDP camp, said the suffering started three years ago when most of the humanitarian aid organisations left.

“Initially, when we arrived at Central 10 years ago, we had a functional and reliable clinic inside the camp. Our suffering began three years ago when the humanitarian aid organisations left.”

Kangadi said the Borno State government had failed to address the vacuum caused by their departure.

Efforts to obtain comments from Borno State Primary Healthcare department were unsuccessful.

AYSHA MUSTAPHA KOLOMI