On 30 September, 2026, Médecins Sans Frontières marked 30 years of providing healthcare in Nigeria with an event in Abuja filled with deep reflection of years gone by and the future prospects laced with funfair and a photo exhibition.
By Anthony Maiki, Abuja
The ambience of Ballroom 2, Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, was superlative worthy of celebration. Marking 30 years of medical humanitarian care to communities in Nigeria is no fluke or fry in a pan. It is commitment and utmost dedication in difficult environment.
So, when the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders marked 30 years of care in Nigeria with a celebration in Abuja on 30, September, 2026, the scorecard was excellent and testimonies were overwhelming.
But, even looking forward to more health service delivery, MSF is still calling on the authorities, donor community and international organisations to sustained action on ongoing health and humanitarian crises in Nigeria including malnutrition, infectious diseases, maternal and child health needs, displacement and barriers to essential healthcare.
It was an ample occasion for MSF to call for this sustainability with in attendance officials from federal and various state governments, members of the diplomatic community, humanitarian organisations, community representatives and other stakeholders.
MSF Country Representative for Nigeria, Dr Ahmed Aldikhari, said the story in Nigeria began in 1996, when the organisation responded to a meningitis epidemic sweeping through Kano, Bauchi, and Katsina States.
“That emergency did not end when the outbreak did — we have answered outbreak after outbreak since, in measles, meningitis, and diphtheria, because this work only ever changes shape; it does not finish,” he said.
According to him, what began as an epidemic response has grown into a full programme of care — maternal and paediatric health, nutrition, vaccination, surgery, tuberculosis and HIV care, and emergency response to conflict and displacement.
“Today, MSF runs projects across nine states, working alongside the Ministry of Health at every level and alongside our humanitarian partners. None of this growth happened because we decided it should; it happened because communities opened their doors to us, and the need never stopped growing either,” Dr. Aldikhari said.
Fast forward, the Country Representative explained that malnutrition remains a significant concern. “In 2025, MSF teams treated 425,634 children for acute malnutrition, a 41.8 per cent increase compared with the previous year. For the 2026 lean season, the Food and Agriculture Organization estimated that 34.7 million people were projected to face crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity, while more than 5.4 million children were expected to suffer from acute malnutrition.
“From January to August 2026, MSF teams treated 57,999 children with malnutrition in inpatient facilities and 220,995 children through outpatient programmes, he noted.
However, Dr. Aldikhari said, the needs extend beyond nutrition as recurrent outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and diphtheria, seasonal diseases including malaria, and ongoing maternal and paediatric health needs continue to place pressure on communities and already stretched health services.
He pointed out that conflict and displacement can further disrupt access to food, healthcare, clean water and sanitation, increasing people’s vulnerability to preventable illness.
“Thirty years is not only an opportunity to recognise what has been achieved, but also to look at what communities need today. The health challenges we see — from malnutrition and infectious diseases to maternal health needs, displacement and barriers to essential healthcare — show the importance of sustained attention, resources and commitment,” said Dr Aldikhari.
He noted that the anniversary also provides an opportunity to recognise the role of Nigerian staff, communities, health authorities and humanitarian partners in MSF’s work over the past three decades saying Nigerian staff currently make up more than 90 per cent of MSF’s staff working in the country.
Presently, MSF teams are working across 10 states offering various medical and humanitarian services including surgical care, paediatric and maternal healthcare, treating children with malnutrition, responding to disease outbreaks and seasonal peaks, and mental healthcare.
Only last year, MSF assisted 39,200 deliveries, admitted 230, 600 patients in its supported hospitals, and vaccinated 881,500 children.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund Office, Dr. Aishetu Gogo Ndayako, said the federal government values the complimentary of credible organisations like MSF in healthcare delivery.
The SGF also applauded the services of MSF in the last 30 years and commended the past and present leadership of the organisation that have helped in providing healthcare.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, represented by the Director of International Cooperation, Dr. Sampson Ebimaro pointed out that not only did MSF provided healthcare services but have employed over 4000 Nigerians.
The Minister said Nigeria cannot achieve its full potentials when children are malnourished, woman die giving birth and diseases are prevalent.
Senator Bagudu said in the last three years, the ministry has made the work of NGOs smooth but have withdrawn licences of some that have fluttered operational standards.
Part of the event was a panel discussion with shared experiences and highlighting the importance of sustained investment across the health system, including the need for stronger primary healthcare, improved access to maternal and child health services, prevention and timely treatment of malnutrition, disease surveillance and rapid outbreak response, vaccination, and safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
A robust photo exhibition was also held capturing some landmark interventions in the three decades of services as well as a “Unity dance” capturing the Nigeria’s diverse ethnicity by a cultural troupe.
Indeed, as MSF marks 30 years in Nigeria, it remains committed to working alongside communities, health authorities and other partners to respond to evolving health and humanitarian needs and support access to timely, quality healthcare.
Dr. Aldikhari was passionate about MSF activities: “Thirty years of hands held in delivery rooms, children pulled back from the edge of severe malnutrition, vaccines delivered in the heat of an outbreak, and teams showing up, again and again, when the need was greatest.”
He spoke about hospitality of the people: “For thirty years, Nigerian communities have welcomed MSF into their homes and their lives, trusting us at some of the most difficult moments a family can face. That trust is perhaps our greatest achievement.”
Dr. Aldikhari was philosophical about the landmark. He said: “But it is not yet time to celebrate. The scale of need continues to grow. Today is a chance to look back at the distance travelled together, and to look ahead, honestly, at what remains undone.” Yes, there are still more work to be done, though there is need to click glasses.
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