By Damiete Braide
In the conflict-affected terrain of Borno State, Nigeria, where insurgency, displacement, and the collapse of health infrastructure have long disrupted access to basic medical care, one public health expert has become a driving force of systemic change. Dr. Hassan Malgwi Saidu, an emergency healthcare leader and senior technical advisor with UNICEF, has spearheaded a suite of transformative health interventions that are reshaping how life-saving services reach the most vulnerable.
His journey began in 2015 with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), where he developed innovative emergency response strategies tailored for internally displaced populations and remote communities. Recognizing the limitations of static health infrastructure in conflict zones, Dr. Saidu introduced mobile health clinics equipped with telehealth tools, allowing health teams to diagnose, treat, and follow up with patients in highly insecure and hard-to-reach areas. These mobile units became operational lifelines, established in IDP camps, displaced communities, and areas geographically isolated due to armed conflict, offering maternal care, immunizations, chronic disease management, and rapid response to disease outbreaks where there were previously no services at all.
Dr. Saidu’s fieldwork targeted Local Government Areas such as Konduga, Dikwa, and Ngala, where access to healthcare was virtually nonexistent. He strategically embedded these services into the social fabric of affected communities by working with Ward and Village Development Committees, traditional leaders, and grassroots organizations. He understood that effective healthcare must go beyond service delivery, it must include community trust, localized governance, and health literacy. His efforts dramatically improved healthcare-seeking behavior and strengthened early disease detection and emergency response capacity.
Dr. Saidu is currently leading the development of the Borno State Primary Health Care Development Agency’s operational guidelines, a major policy milestone for health governance in the region. He chairs and coordinates key working groups—including the Inter-Agency Technical Committee, Monitoring and Evaluation, Finance, Logistics, and Social Mobilization, laying the groundwork for an integrated, resilient, and accountable PHC system across Borno State. His approach ensures that health programs are not only responsive but sustainable, even in the face of ongoing insecurity.
Dr. Saidu’s leadership was also instrumental during multiple public health crises, where he coordinated rapid response teams, trained local personnel in case management, supported sentinel surveillance using PHC infrastructure, and successfully led a high-impact vaccination campaign that achieved remarkable uptake in Borno’s hardest-hit communities.
Dr. Haruna Mshelia, former Commissioner for Health in Borno State, offered this commendation:
“Dr. Hassan Malgwi Saidu’s leadership in emergency health response has been nothing short of transformative. His ability to operationalize mobile healthcare, engage communities, and rebuild systems under pressure has saved lives and restored hope to thousands across Borno. His contributions continue to shape our state’s public health strategy today.”
As Borno State rebuilds its systems and strengthens its future, Dr. Saidu’s pioneering work in crisis-driven public health delivery stands as a benchmark for what is possible, even in the most fragile environments. His legacy is etched not only in policy and practice but in the lives of countless individuals who today have access to healthcare because one man chose to lead boldly in the face of adversity.