Nigeria Among Countries Facing Healthcare Attacks, WHO Reports

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified Nigeria as one of the countries experiencing significant healthcare attacks, with over 10,400 incidents reported globally since 2018. These attacks, which occurred across 29 countries, have led to around 5,700 deaths and more than 8,000 injuries.

In a recent update, the WHO noted that between January and August 2026, over 900 attacks were recorded, resulting in at least 900 deaths and over 1,400 injuries. Nigeria is listed alongside countries such as Ukraine, Lebanon, and Syria as locations where healthcare attacks have occurred this year.

WHO Director for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Altaf Musani, emphasized that the consequences of these attacks extend beyond immediate casualties, disrupting healthcare services and affecting future patient care. The WHO also reported 44 incidents involving the abduction or detention of healthcare workers and patients in the same timeframe.

In Nigeria, terrorism has severely impacted healthcare, particularly in areas affected by insurgency, leading to the closure of facilities and threats against medical personnel.