Northeast Nigeria is likely one of the tougher humanitarian contexts globally. Nearly a decade of battle between militias and the Nigerian army has killed extra 350,000 individuals and severely broken key infrastructure.

In September of this 12 months, the IRC surveyed 477 frontline well being care employees in northeast Nigeria to be taught extra in regards to the challenges they face. This survey meant to determine incidents of violence in opposition to well being care as skilled by well being care workers since early 2021. It additionally got down to achieve a extra detailed sense of those employees’ views on the causes and influence of this violence and the way options meant to stop or reply to this violence may develop into more practical.

To be taught extra, learn this report.

KEY FINDINGS

❖ The survey shines a light-weight on the excessive ranges of insecurity well being employees throughout the BAY states are uncovered to. In September 2022, 477 frontline well being employees supplied their views on the primary dangers they face, the foundation causes of those considerations and precedence interventions required to cut back the violence, and its influence on the inhabitants. (see part Methodology)

❖ Four out of 10 respondents have been uncovered to an assault in opposition to well being care for the reason that begin of 2021. The findings present the repetitive nature of such violence: 80% of those that skilled one incident, skilled at the very least yet another. The majority of assaults had been reported in Borno. However, the big variety of assaults reported exterior of Borno State affirm that well being employees and communities proceed to face extreme dangers all throughout the northeastern a part of the nation. (Characteristics of the violence)

❖ The mostly reported incidents are direct assaults on amenities and the kidnapping of well being workers. These assaults are immediately linked to a scarcity of companies in inaccessible areas, with armed teams forcefully taking workers and well being sources to service non-state armed group members and communities in areas with restricted well being companies. (Kidnapping)

• ̈Health employees are focused as a result of they’re perceived to be important to the society and authorities, and assault on them is believed to trigger extreme injury on the society, governments and humanitarian entities efforts in well being response. ̈ (Nurse, Yobe)*

❖ Thirteen well being workers had been killed within the 50 incidents reported. In addition to the direct influence on the lives of workers and sufferers, the influence of those incidents on the well being system is way reaching: a mixed 2,356 working days, or 6.6 years, had been missed by well being workers following the incidents reported. (Effects on the well being system and inhabitants)

❖ The outcomes additionally present a sign of the influence of such violence on the psychological wellbeing of the inhabitants: nearly 80% of the respondents who skilled an assault reported a number of signs of heightened misery. However, help is restricted – Almost half of the respondents who witnessed an incident didn’t obtain any sort of formal help after this assault. (Effects on the well being system and inhabitants)

❖ After 46% of reported incidents, communities confronted extra difficulties accessing wanted well being companies. Patients are afraid to go to the clinic or keep in a single day and violence results in much more shortages in workers and medicines. Respondents reported that vitamin companies had been impacted in a single third of the incidents reported (Effects on the well being system and inhabitants)

❖ Recommendations by consultants present that this rising concern requires concerted efforts by all who care in regards to the security of workers, and proper to well being, within the northeast of the nation. The required interventions vary from the implementation of significant humanitarian entry methods, extra funding to maintain amenities secure, to making sure accountability for recognized perpetrators. (Recommendations)