By Ijeoma Obioma
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) and the Benue State Government have concluded a free medical outreach in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue State.
The Executive Secretary, Benue State Primary Health Care Board, Mrs Ashi Wende, who launched the programme in Uikpam IDP camp in Guma LGA, said the outreach climaxed at the weekend.
Wende, who was represented by Dr. Joseph Korave, the Director of Disease Control and Immunization of the Health Care Board, said they decided to embark on the humanitarian health outreach activity in Ortese and Uikpam camps, both in Guma LGA based on critical lack of health services in those two camps.
She said that there would be no admission of patients because “admission requires a lot of logistics. So, for now, it’s hot patient treatment. Those that require admission will be referred to the nearest health facility.”
She added that drugs are available for the treatment of prevalent cases like infectious diseases, malaria and pneumonia while the medical team comprising doctors, nurses and pharmacists will be rotating round the camps to render health services, stressing that the members of the host communities will as well, benefit.
Wende informed that no outbreak of diseases has been recorded apart from “Buruli Ulcer popularly known in Tiv as Ambi” which was discovered by doctors at Ortese camp, stating the regular immunization carried out by the ministry of health had prevented outbreak of diseases.
A doctor handling patients at the Uikpam IDP camp from the Primary Health Care Board, Dr Mohammed Igbaje, added that part from the diseases highlighted by the representative of the Board’s Executive Secretary, most of the aged people in the camp were suffering from eye problem which he attributed to malnutrition that can be easily solved by eating enough fruits and vegetables.
Representative of UNICEF, Mr Jeremiah Nweke, expressed concern over the lack of medical services at the two camps and said, it’s the reason why WHO partnered them for the humanitarian intervention.
In a vote of thanks, Kindred head of Mbaikyor which is the host community of the Uikpam IDP camp, Zaki Slyvester Achin, and Mr John Uvia, camp chairman, expressed gratitude to the sponsors of the medical outreach and assured that the equipment kept in the camp would remain secured and intact.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
