Effects of banditry on primary health care delivery in north-western Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of banditry on primary health care delivery in north-western Nigeria. Banditry has emerged as a critical concern in recent years in the region, affecting many sectors including healthcare systems. We examined how the escalating violence and insecurity have disrupted the provision of essential health services, leading to a range of adverse consequences, including the displacement of healthcare workers, the closure of health facilities, and the hindrance of medical supply chains in north-western Nigeria. The secondary sources of data reviewed show the detrimental effects of banditry on healthcare delivery in north-western Nigeria, particularly in rural communities. These effects included instilling fear among health workers, of which there are already insufficient numbers, hence forcing them away from healthcare centres and contributing to a malnutrition crisis. Thus, it is recommended that there should be robust security measures to safeguard healthcare facilities and workers, community outreach programs to educate local populations, telemedicine services and mobile clinics to provide healthcare services in areas with limited access due to security concerns, training of healthcare workers in conflict-prone areas in emergency response and conflict resolution to deal with security threats effectively, and collaboration with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community leaders, and traditional healers to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery.