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Key Challenges and Disruptions Faced by The Health Supply Chain in Northeast Nigeria During Humanitarian Crises
Subject area: Biological & Medical Sciences · Area of research: Health Supply Chain Management
Abstract
Insecurity, infrastructure damage, and chronic underfunding have strained the health system's capacity to sustain life-saving interventions, especially in hard-to-reach areas. This study aims to investigate the key challenges and disruptions faced by the health supply chain in northeast Nigeria during humanitarian crises. A mixed-methods design was adopted. The population included health supply chain stakeholders across Borno and Adamawa States with a sample size of 200 selected using the purposive sampling technique. Quantitative data were collected using questionnaire while Qualitative insights were obtained through key informant interviews with officials from government agencies, NGOs, and development partners. Quantitative data were analyzed using percentage, mean and regression statistics with the aid of the Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS V-27), while qualitative responses were thematically coded. Analysis was framed using a resilience systems theory model, emphasizing robustness, redundancy, resourcefulness, and rapidity. Findings revealed that The result showed that, 167 (83.5%) indicated that there is frequent disruption in the health supply chain, and the major causes were: The major causes of supply chain disruption were: conflict/insurgency (200%), poor infrastructure (100%), inadequate funding (94.5%), political instability (54.5%), poor road networks (44.5%), and natural disaster (13.0%). 39(19.5%) indicated that the current health supply chain was handled disruption well. The result further showed that more than half 114 (57.0%) indicated thatrespondents experience delays in delivery of medical supplies frequently and 113 (56.5%) indicated that there is adequate health supplies during disruption. Major limitations were: insecurity and disruptions of transportation routes during insurgencies (54.0%), persistent insecurity and disruptions of transportation routes during insurgencies (30.5%), and insecurity and conflict-induced road inaccessibility (8.5%). Key gaps included limited real-time visibility, poor coordination, and underutilization of technology. The study concludes that the disruptions faced by the supply chain in Northern Nigeria are primarily driven by a confluence of intractable factors: pervasive insecurity and ongoing conflict, dilapidated and insufficient infrastructure, and chronic, systemic underfunding. It recommends scaling up digital logistics management tools, improving transport infrastructure tailored to conflict zones, securing emergency response financing, and enhancing local actor participation in logistics planning. Strengthened coordination among government and partners is critical for sustainable impact.
Keywords
Challenges, Disruptions, Supply Chain, Northeast Nigeria
References
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How to cite this paper
@article{1710332,
author = {Ene-Bongilli, Goodness, Yakubu Kolo Yaro, Stephen Blessing Musa},
title = {Key Challenges and Disruptions Faced by The Health Supply Chain in Northeast Nigeria During Humanitarian Crises},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2024},
volume = {7},
number = {12},
pages = {611-619},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1710332.pdf},
abstract = {Insecurity, infrastructure damage, and chronic underfunding have strained the health system's capacity to sustain life-saving interventions, especially in hard-to-reach areas. This study aims to investigate the key challenges and disruptions faced by the health supply chain in northeast Nigeria during humanitarian crises. A mixed-methods design was adopted. The population included health supply chain stakeholders across Borno and Adamawa States with a sample size of 200 selected using the purposive sampling technique. Quantitative data were collected using questionnaire while Qualitative insights were obtained through key informant interviews with officials from government agencies, NGOs, and development partners. Quantitative data were analyzed using percentage, mean and regression statistics with the aid of the Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS V-27), while qualitative responses were thematically coded. Analysis was framed using a resilience systems theory model, emphasizing robustness, redundancy, resourcefulness, and rapidity. Findings revealed that The result showed that, 167 (83.5%) indicated that there is frequent disruption in the health supply chain, and the major causes were: The major causes of supply chain disruption were: conflict/insurgency (200%), poor infrastructure (100%), inadequate funding (94.5%), political instability (54.5%), poor road networks (44.5%), and natural disaster (13.0%). 39(19.5%) indicated that the current health supply chain was handled disruption well. The result further showed that more than half 114 (57.0%) indicated thatrespondents experience delays in delivery of medical supplies frequently and 113 (56.5%) indicated that there is adequate health supplies during disruption. Major limitations were: insecurity and disruptions of transportation routes during insurgencies (54.0%), persistent insecurity and disruptions of transportation routes during insurgencies (30.5%), and insecurity and conflict-induced road inaccessibility (8.5%). Key gaps included limited real-time visibility, poor coordination, and underutilization of technology. The study concludes that the disruptions faced by the supply chain in Northern Nigeria are primarily driven by a confluence of intractable factors: pervasive insecurity and ongoing conflict, dilapidated and insufficient infrastructure, and chronic, systemic underfunding. It recommends scaling up digital logistics management tools, improving transport infrastructure tailored to conflict zones, securing emergency response financing, and enhancing local actor participation in logistics planning. Strengthened coordination among government and partners is critical for sustainable impact.},
keywords = {Challenges, Disruptions, Supply Chain, Northeast Nigeria},
month = {June},
}