Ms Gerida Birukila, Chief of Field Office at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has revealed that the organisation in collaboration with others, attends to no fewer than 300 Yelwata victims seeking medical care daily at its temporary camp in Makurdi.
She made this known to newsmen on Thursday, shortly after officials of the United States Government inspected health facilities and other intervention points at the camp.
She said that more than 50 pregnant women had also been referred to the hospital for delivery, just as over 1,000 mama kit bags had been distributed.
“We attend to between 250 and 300 patients with different ailments daily, and we work closely with other partners like UNFPA, WHO, Red Cross Nigeria, JASPI, government, and others.
UNICEF and the Benue State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BERWASSA) also ensure that WASH services are available in the camp. This is aimed at preventing outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases,” she said.
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Birukila also disclosed that no fewer than 500 children had been immunised against polio. She added that the children also received other antigens to prevent outbreaks of measles, diphtheria, tuberculosis, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office said the organisation, in collaboration with the Federal Government and other agencies, had already intervened in the area of general healthcare services.
She further stated that UNICEF also offered psychosocial support for traumatised patients, including treatment of ailments, injuries, and burns.
“We have hundreds of pregnant women in the camp. There have been nine deliveries so far. We are able to take care of them here, but those who needed more specialised care were referred to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi,” she said.
Similarly, UNICEF Health Specialist, Dr Ifeyinwa Anyanyo, said the organisation offered 24-hour integrated primary healthcare services at the camp.
Anyanyo stated that the nine babies delivered at the camp and 35 others born at BSUTH, along with their mothers, were all doing well, adding that no deaths had been recorded at the camp.
“We conducted a multi-sectoral rapid assessment in the camp to determine the needs of the IDPs. From that assessment, we identified priority areas for intervention.
We have a clinic that runs 24 hours a day. On average, we see more than 200 patients daily, providing services that range from clinical screening and treatment of minor ailments to immunisation.
We also treat chronic illnesses, conduct rapid tests, and offer medical consultations. Antenatal and postnatal care services are also available.
We have seasoned medical professionals here delivering these services,” she said.
