Downpour season exacerbates illness, food shortage crisis in Zamfara, says Doctors Without Borders

Médecins Sans Frontières, a humanitarian medical organisation, has sounded the alarm on deteriorating health and humanitarian conditions in northwestern Nigeria, warning that the onset of the rainy season is triggering devastating outbreaks of malaria, cholera, typhoid, and acute malnutrition in vulnerable communities across Zamfara State.

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The organisation issued a statement on Monday, stating that the annual rains, which typically commence between May and September, have become a "season of death" for numerous families already displaced and impoverished by years of armed violence and insecurity.

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Flooding, stagnant water, poor sanitation, and overcrowded living conditions are exacerbating the spread of infectious diseases, while worsening food shortages and limited access to healthcare continue to expose thousands of residents to preventable deaths, according to MSF.

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Sani Adamu, Nursing Activity Manager at MSF hospital in Zamfara, noted that "The rainy season affects the way we see patients, it increases the risks and transmission of many diseases, like malaria, cholera and other acute watery diarrheal diseases."

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Adamu explained that stagnant floodwater creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes, causing malaria cases to surge, while contaminated water sources contribute to outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever, and other waterborne illnesses, stating "In places where sanitation is poor and water sources are unsafe, any contamination can spread quickly."

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He further added, "Flooding washes waste, garbage and faecal matter into water sources, spreading water-borne diseases, children play in this water, households use it, and people fall sick."

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MSF disclosed that in 2025 alone, it treated 136,778 malaria patients and 13,877 cholera cases in Zamfara State, highlighting the organisation's efforts to combat the spread of infectious diseases in the region.

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The organisation also highlighted the growing burden of typhoid-related complications, especially among children, citing the case of Auwalu Biliya from Shinkafi Local Government Area, who developed severe typhoid complications after consuming contaminated food and water.

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Auwalu's grandmother, Rakiya Usman, recounted the ordeal, saying "We took him to the hospital in Shinkafi, we were told his intestines had been affected."

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Auwalu was later referred to an MSF-supported General Hospital in Zurmi for emergency surgery after suffering intestinal perforation, a severe complication linked to untreated typhoid fever, with Adamu explaining that "Early treatment is crucial, when treatment is delayed, the intestine can perforate, a severe condition where the intestine ruptures."

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Adamu further noted that "At that stage, complications can be fatal, and surgery is the only option," emphasizing the importance of prompt medical intervention in such cases.

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Beyond disease outbreaks, the organisation warned that the rainy season also coincides with the annual lean season, when food supplies are depleted, and malnutrition rates rise sharply, with MSF treating 60,566 malnourished children in Zamfara in 2025.

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The organisation noted that children under 15 and pregnant women remain the most vulnerable to malnutrition, with MSF expressing concern over worsening access to healthcare in conflict-affected communities.

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Saratu, a displaced mother, described the hardship faced by many families seeking medical care, saying "We live close to the river and sleep in the bush, we don’t have mosquito nets, during the rainy season, a lot of children get malaria, one child recovers, and another falls sick."

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MSF currently operates or supports four healthcare facilities across northern Nigeria to manage seasonal disease outbreaks and malnutrition cases, with the organisation calling for urgent preventive measures to reduce illness and mortality during the rainy season.

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The organisation advocated for improved access to clean water and sanitation, stronger vaccination campaigns, and better-equipped healthcare facilities, with Adamu stating that "Most of the illnesses and deaths during the rainy season are preventable, preventive action before and during the rainy season is critical."