IDPs Laments Over Poor Living Conditions
By Esther Enna
Women and children at any given time are said to be at the receiving end of every crisis situation since they are the most vulnerable members of the society, confronted with daunting challenges.
In this special report,Correspondent Esther Enna who visited Awe and Keana in Nasarawa State with the support of a Non Governmental Organisation, Safe-Media Initiative, examines the situation of women and children living in IDP Camps,the impact of their exposure to unsanitary conditions,lack of access to medical care and government response to their plights.
The Awe and Keana Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs’ Camps came into being since twenty eighteen following endless hostilities against farmers by suspected armed wielding herdsmen leading to wanton destruction of lives and property.
Consequent upon these developments, people particularly of Tiv extraction were evicted from their ancestral places of abodes they had been domiciled for decades and forced to become internally displaced persons.
Some widows at the IDP’s Camp,Mrs Grace Shima,Scorlarstica Isiah and Stella Samuel who said they faced a lot of challenges in meeting the basic needs of their families as well as impacts of their exposure to unsanitary condition,informed Radio Nigeria Precious FM that they also have various health challenges to content with.
The widows noted that they dont have clean source of drinking and cooking water and as such have to drink water from a pond dug within the camp in Awe pilot science primary school.
On their parts,Mrs Paulina Mathew and Rabecca James said they do not have any means of livelihood hence could not provide any of their pressing need.
They explained that they have spent five years in the IDP Camp with nothing left as a result of lost of their farm lands, husbands among others, following the persistent attacks on their communities by suspected herdsmen.
An eight months pregnant woman , Charity Emmanuel said for eight months she could not feed properly and therefore have not visited the nearest hospital for antinantal services due to lack of funds
The Camp Coordinator,Mr Ezekiel Orkuha explained that even though the State government,Redcross Society,Safer -Media Initiative and Paged Initiative a Non Governmental organisations based in Abuja and well meaning individuals have tried in addressing the health needs of the internally displaced persons,much needed to be done to ameliorate the sufferings of those currently in IDP Camps across the state.
Mr Orkuha added that some IDP’s are taking refuge at the Awe pilot science primary school while some have left the camp to rent apartment outside the camp
When contacted, Acting Medical Superintendent of General Hospital Awe , Doctor Ikenna Obichefa,advocated for sustained female education particularly pregnant women to avert attendant consequences that could endanger mother and child during pregnancy and delivery.
Doctor Obichefa also noted that the hospital has welfare programme that offers free medical services for indigents patients.
The Acting Medical Superintendent encouraged people to always strive to drink safe portable water to improve their well being and visit the hospital if contracted with any disease for medical attention.
