Winifred Bosa.

About 247 health centers in Boko Haram-hit state of Borno have been totally destroyed, the World Health Organisation reports.

The number represents a third of all the 743 health facilities in the state prior to the advent of activities by the insurgent group.

The insurgent group had also partially destroyed another third of the health facilities in the state.

The WHO said it had worked with Borno’s health ministry to gather information about medical services available there.

It said that of 743 health facilities, 35 percent had been completely destroyed, another 29 percent partially damaged and 34 percent remained intact.

Wondi Alemu, WHO’s Nigeria representative, said “high insecurity, difficult terrain and lack of health workers, medicines, equipment and basic amenities such as safe water” made it hard for people to access health care.

The insurgent group has killed 15,000 people and displaced more than two million from their homes during its attempt to create a “caliphate” in the northeast of Nigeria.

However, in the last few months of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the Nigerian Army, with help from military forces of neighbouring states have reclaimed most of the areas.

Although suppressed, the Jihadist group still carries out attacks like the suicide bomb attack by two girls which left 56 dead.

NAN