From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Two weeks after Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area were camped in International Market Makurdi, the Benue State capital, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said it has immunised over 1,000 children at the camp.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office, Gerida Birukila, made the disclosure while speaking to newsmen shortly after receiving and conducting visiting US government officials round the health facilities and other intervention points in the camp.
She explained that while over 500 children have been immunised for polio, like others, they have also received other antigens to prevent outbreak of measles, diphtheria, and tuberculosis, among other things required for routine immunisation.
The UNICEF Chief noted that the organisation, in collaboration with the Federal Government and other sister agencies, have been offering interventions in the area of general healthcare services, ranging from psycho-social support for the trauma patients to treatment of ailments, injuries and burns.
“We have hundreds of pregnant women in the camp here. There are nine deliveries so far; we are able to take care of them in the camp, but those who needed more care were referred to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, (BSUTH) Makurdi.
She said over 35 to 50 pregnant women have been referred to the hospital for delivery, just as over 1,000 mama kit bags have been given out.
“We are seeing between 250 and 300 patients a day with different ailments. And we are working closely with other partners like the UNFPA, WHO, Red Cross Nigeria, JASPI, government and others.
“UNICEF and the Benue State Rural Water and Supply and Sanitation Agency (BERWASSA) are ensuring that there are WASH services in the camp, in a bid to check the outbreak of cholera and waterborne diseases,” she said.
Also speaking, the UNICEF Health specialist, Dr. Ifeyinwa Anyanyo, told newsmen that “when the news of the deadly attack broke, the health section within UNICEF immediately engaged with the health MDAs in the state, the Ministry of Health and the Primary Healthcare Board quickly mobilised a multi disciplinary team of health care workers; doctors, nurses, among others, to the camp here and set up a functional clinic space.
“And, from then on, we have been working to strengthen the health response. UNICEF as an organisation mobilised support, working with the government partners to build up that team. We conducted a multi sectoral rapid assessment in the camp to determine what the needs of the IDPs are. From that assessment we were able to know what we should prioritise and what intervention we should provide.
“We have a clinic that runs 24 hours of the day. In a day, on the average, we see more than 200 patients. And the services provided range from clinical screening of diseases. We provide treatment for minor ailments, provide immunisation services, treat chronic ailments, and do rapid tests and medical consultations. We also have the Antenatal Care (ANC) and Post Natal services. We have seasoned medical professionals here providing the services,” she said.
Anyanyo, while noting that the nine new babies, the over 35 others birthed at BSUTH and the mothers are well and healthy, expressed joy that no death has been recorded at the camp.
She said following immunisation campaigns happening in town, “we ensured that the teams came here to vaccinate children against Polio. 218 children have been immunised through the routine immunisation services being provided in the camp.
“For the National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs), over 1,000 children were vaccinated in the camp. Because these children are displaced, we are ensuring that they also get the services other children are getting,” he said.