The Borno State Primary Health Care Management Board (BPHCM) said on Wednesday that 80,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 17 camps in the state have benefited from its free medical outreach.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr. Sule Mene, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Mene said that the agency had inaugurated about 240 Integrated Primary Health Care Team (IPHCT) that would ensure availability of the relevant services to meet the demand of such persons in camps.
He said that about 14 health staff situated in all the camps would provide healthcare activities like routine immunization against vaccine preventable diseases for children, aged 0-11 months.
He mentioned other services to include anti-natal health care for pregnant women, psychosocial services, as well as child nutrition support for the mothers.
He explained that the agency had also donated about one million mosquitoes net, first aid kits, 57 maternity bed in the maternity unit as well as dewarming drugs for children.
“This is to ensure that the health care needs of this group are met.In Dalori camp alone, we have about 10, 000 children and all them have successfully been immunized.
“It was equally meant to enhance healthy growth of the child in the area of nutrition as well as malaria and tuberculosis prevention,”he said
According to him, the Agency through its Community Management of Manutrition Team (CMMT), had ensured frequent provision of clean and portable drinking water in the camp.
“The team was set up by the agency’s department of Disease and Control,”he said.
Mene said that the agency in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had trained 6 ambulance drivers in the camps on professional driving skills.
“This driver would work tirelessly to provide quick response to emergency cases in the IDP’s to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for proper medical attention.
“We also have our team situated in Umaru Shehu, Maiduguri Specialist Hospital and UMTH to ensure that our emergency patients are quickly attended to,”said mene.
The Secretary mention some of the challenges faced by the agency to include continuous rise of IDPs on camp.
“The camp is over streched but we are working with other partners which include NEMA, WHO, UNICEF, BOSEPA and SEMA to provide conducive, healthy and hygienic environment to the IDPs,”said Mene.
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