Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has established facilities with a combined capacity of 400 beds across Kebbi State to combat malnutrition.
Mr Huggins Madondo, MSF Project Coordinator in Kebbi, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.
He said the facilities were strategically located across the state, noting that MSF began its response to malnutrition in Kebbi in 2022.
“At the beginning, we started with a facility of less than 20-bed capacity to tackle malnutrition.
“We call these facilities In-patient Therapeutic Feeding Centres (ITFC) and Ambulatory Therapeutic Feeding Centres (ATFC).
“The ITFC is for children admitted for intensive care, while the ATFC serves outpatients, children not requiring admission,” he said.
Madondo highlighted the growing demand for services, saying, “Looking at the trend in malnutrition, we now have a 250-bed capacity facility in Maiyama Local Government Area.”
He said in line with the memorandum of understanding with the Kebbi State Government, they also had a 40-bed facility at Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital in Birnin Kebbi.
On challenges faced by the organisation, he mentioned late presentation of patients, security issues, and transport difficulties as key obstacles.
Appreciating the Kebbi State Ministry of Health for its collaborative efforts, Madondo said MSF was actively engaging with key stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the intervention.
“In that regard, we have an agreement with the ministry to ensure that health professionals working with MSF are recruited under our contract.
“Some staff from the ministry has experience in treating malnutrition, while others do not. Our experienced personnel provide guidance and training to their counterparts from the ministry,” he explained.
He stressed that MSF ensured proper handover when it eventually exited a project.
“We don’t leave behind white elephants or burdens,” he added.
Madondo also emphasised the ministry’s role in ongoing planning and input, helping to ensure long-term continuity.
He said that, during the peak malnutrition period, which usually begins in June, MSF recalled its pool of professionals, including doctors and nurses, and provided them with refresher training before deployment.
Describing MSF as a “complete mobile hospital,” Madondo said the organisation includes professionals in various fields, including water and sanitation, health information management, and more.
As part of its community support, he said MSF had also drilled boreholes in various communities to provide access to clean and potable water.