Assessment of Emergency Preparedness Capacities of District Hospitals in Benue State, North Central Nigeria

Emergency preparedness in district-level hospitals is critical to Nigeria's capacity to absorb surges in demand during disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and mass casualty events, yet systematic assessments of preparedness capacity at this level remain limited. This study assesses the emergency preparedness capacities of district hospitals in Benue State, using a standardised hospital assessment tool to evaluate surge capacity, triage systems, emergency supply stockpiling, staff emergency training, communication protocols, and multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms. A cross-sectional facility assessment is conducted across 24 district-level hospitals selected through stratified random sampling from the six geopolitical zones of Benue State. Mixed data collection methods include direct facility observations, key informant interviews with hospital management, and structured audits of emergency preparedness documentation. A composite Emergency Preparedness Score is calculated for each facility and analysed in SPSS using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance to examine inter-zonal differences. Evidence from Nigeria's 2021 National Health Facility Survey indicates that fewer than 35 percent of general hospitals have functional mass casualty plans, with North Central states performing below the national average on emergency supply indicators. The International Health Regulations (2005) core capacity requirements and the WHO Emergency and Essential Surgical Care standards provide the normative assessment framework. Findings will guide Benue State's health authorities on priority preparedness investments. Keywords: emergency preparedness, district hospitals, surge capacity, Benue State, North Central Nigeria.