MSF strengthens Bauchi’s fight against child malnutrition
By Ahmed Ahmed
The Bauchi State Government, in collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has intensified efforts to combat child malnutrition and respond to disease outbreaks across the state.
The Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Rilwan Muhammad, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Bauchi on recent updates and achievements in the state’s primary healthcare sector.
He said Bauchi records high levels of child stunting caused by chronic malnutrition, a development that prompted the state government to invite MSF for support.
According to him, MSF established a 350-bed malnutrition treatment centre in Ganjuwa Local Government Area, where children with severe acute malnutrition and their caregivers receive free medical care, feeding, and other essential services.
He noted that during peak malnutrition periods, particularly between April and July, the facility becomes overstretched as patients are referred from primary healthcare centres within Bauchi and neighbouring states such as Jigawa and Plateau.
“At peak periods, we receive between 100 children daily, compared to 70–80 during regular periods. This increase led to the expansion of bed capacity from 250 to 350,” Muhammad said.
He added that MSF currently provides free medical services to about 2,000 children aged between one month and 15 years every month, including treatment for severe acute malnutrition and related complications.
Services at the MSF isolation centre include three free meals daily for children and caregivers, essential drugs, laboratory investigations, sanitary supplies, and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).
He also commended MSF for supporting diphtheria vaccination exercises in December 2025 and January 2026, with another round expected soon.
To improve access to healthcare in hard-to-reach areas, MSF has introduced the Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) approach in eight villages in Ganjuwa LGA, training community health workers to diagnose and treat malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea within communities.
The organisation has also introduced the Para-MUAC strategy, empowering parents and caregivers to detect early signs of malnutrition using simple screening tools.
On immunisation, Muhammad revealed that Bauchi recorded about 95 per cent coverage during the measles-rubella vaccination campaign conducted in October 2025, attributing the success to early sensitisation, proper planning, and strong community engagement.
