In Adamawa State, north-east Nigeria, proactive health preparedness during the 2025 rainy season protected thousands of vulnerable people from preventable disease outbreaks in flood-prone areas.
Coordinated by the Adamawa State Ministry of Health (SMOH) with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO), health teams were deployed ahead of peak flooding in seven high-risk local government areas, including Yola South, Yola North, Numan, Girei, Lamurde, Fufore, and Demsa. Funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Government and People of Japan, the anticipatory response focused on preventing malaria, cholera, and other flood-related diseases, while ensuring continuity of essential health services for displaced and vulnerable populations.
In Fadde Gassol, Yola South, 25-year-old pregnant Aisha Bello received a long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN), malaria prevention treatment, and antenatal care from a WHO/CERF-supported mobile health team. “The medical team came before the floods became worse. This prepared me to stay healthy and deliver my baby safely,” she said. Her story reflects the broader impact of early action across affected communities.
Health teams delivered integrated services across the state, including malaria and acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) management, maternal and child health care, routine immunization, nutrition screening, mental health support, hygiene promotion, and referrals for gender-based violence services. Through CERF and Government of Japan funding, 5,000 LLINs were distributed, 3,000 pregnant women accessed antenatal care—including malaria preventive treatment—three Oral Rehydration Points (ORPs) and Cholera Treatment Centres (CTCs) were established, 250 sanitation facilities were disinfected, and key water sources chlorinated. Thousands received cholera and hygiene messages, and hundreds of displaced households received WASH dignity kits.
“Despite crossing flooded paths to reach communities that had not seen a health worker in weeks, people welcomed us and trusted our support,” said Fatima Musa, a frontline health worker.
WHO also strengthened state-level preparedness through prepositioning emergency medical supplies, training frontline workers, enhancing disease surveillance and early warning systems, and supporting coordination via the Adamawa State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC). “CERF and Japan’s support enabled us to act before the crisis peaked, preventing outbreaks, reducing suffering, and protecting the most vulnerable, especially women and children,” said Dr Abdulhakeem Yusuf, WHO Adamawa State Coordinator.
Strong coordination through the PHEOC brought together partners including WHO, OCHA, UNFPA, SEMA, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and local humanitarian organizations. “Early coordination helped us reach more people before needs escalated,” said Momsiri Wesley Biyama, Head of OCHA Sub-Office in Adamawa. Volunteers from the Nigerian Red Cross Society also ensured services reached communities otherwise cut off.
While the 2025 response successfully protected thousands, recurring floods driven by climate change continue to pose risks. WHO, the Adamawa State Government, and partners remain committed to expanding anticipatory action, strengthening surveillance and WASH infrastructure, and reaching more remote communities to safeguard lives and strengthen resilience in future flood seasons.
