Aisha Ibrahim is a young woman suffering the cholera outbreak in Borno state and have been repeatedly admitted to the MSF cholera treatment centre.
She was discharged from the MSF Cholera Treatment Centre in Maiduguri and went home. Then the vomiting stopped and the diarrhoea started again and she was rushed back.
She has been in admission for more than four days. She has been in this cycle of in and out of the hospital because of the cholera outbreak in Borno state, which should not exist in 2026.
What MSF Is Seeing Every Day
MSF is an abbreviation for Médecins Sans Frontières which in English means Doctors Without Borders. The institution is an independent international humanitarian organization (NGO) founded in 1971 in France and provides emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and other crises.
MSF is one of the main organizations responding to the cholera crisis in Borno State. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) recorded 7,850 suspected cholera cases and 74 deaths in Borno State between May 1 and June 7 2026 across 14 local government areas and 50 wards.
According to the report from MSF, On 5 June alone, MSF received more than 500 patients with acute watery diarrhoea, marking the highest number admitted in a single day since the response began. As of 7 June 2026, MSF had treated a total of 7,439 patients at the MSF-run Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) and Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) with an average of about 230 admissions per day.
Why Is Borno State Always Hit the Hardest by Cholera
There are many reasons why Borno is the major state affected with the cholera outbreak. This state has been traumatized with the prolonged conflict and insurgency in the state. The Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency has caused destruction to the infrastructure and basic amenities of the state. The insecurity has stirred fears among citizens of the state in accessing some communities in the state.
There is poor water, sanitation, and hygiene. The citizen of the state relied mainly on system of basic social amenities that is poorly managed. There are shallow wells, contaminated ponds and rivers which are not safe water sources for the people.
The state is also over populated with poor hygiene thereby increasing the spread of cholera in the state most especially in this rainy season.
What Cholera Actually Is and How It Spreads.
Cholera is a highly infectious bacterial disease which is caused by the bacterium called Vibrio cholerae. It primarily affects the small intestine, where the bacteria produce a toxin that forces the body to release massive amounts of water and electrolytes (salt and minerals) into the intestines. This leads to severe watery diarrhoea.
The major symptoms include sudden onset of profuse watery diarrhoea, vomiting, rapid dehydration, and muscle cramps. Cholera spreads through contaminated water, contaminated food, and poor sanitation.
Final Thoughts regarding Cholera Outbreak in Borno
Borno state is highly inflicted with varieties of problems with the foundation being insecurity. Cholera has possibility of spreading beyond Borno if not curbed early. It might likely become like the spread of Bundibugyo Ebola in Uganda and Congo.
Cholera spread can be controlled if people drink clean water, wash their hands properly before eating, keep their environment, and cook food thoroughly and eat it hot. Cholera is preventable and treatable, but it becomes deadly very quickly when people don’t have access to clean water and medical care.
What do you think Nigeria needs to do urgently to protect the people of Borno State from disease and insecurity? Tell us below. EasySmallTalk covers politics, entertainment, health, lifestyle, and world news every day. Explore more stories on EasySmallTalk
