From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Not fewer than two(2) women have had still births while six children were infected with measles at the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp in Gwer West local government area of Benue State.
This is just as there was gross malnutrition and non accessibility and availability of medical personnel and treatment for the IDPs.
Leader, Agagbe IDP Camp Gwer West, Ibaah Terna Jacob who disclosed this in a telephone chat on Monday, said one of the women had a premature child delivery while the other lost her baby during child birth.
According to him, Adoo Shipinen 27 years old from Sengev council Ward Tse-Atakpa village, stays at room 12 Xavier, became pregnant in the camp and struggled with it as she had no money to access medical treatment until yesterday night at about 10 o’clock, when she gave birth to a dead premature baby boy.
Jacob also narrated how another woman, Ioryoosu Udisugh 40 years, married to Ioryoosu Kurungu 42 years with a child named Ioryoosu Ngutor got pregnant in the camp but is unable to deliver because of lack of medical facilities.
“The woman complained bitterly amidst tears that she feels alot of pains and since she cannot go to the hospital because of funds, she will use the latrine where most women in the camp give birth.
“One of the incident happened on Sunday and the other Monday last week. The women here do not have money to go to the hospital so they deliver in the camp. They use toilet built by Doctors Without Borders to give birth as they cannot afford to go to the hospital.
“We are congested here, it is really tough. I have reported the matter to SEMA. There is also, issue of measles going round the camp. Six children are affected by the disease. No medical attention. They are taking native herbs.
“Continuing, he narrated another case of Agbagbe Nguavese, 40 years whose husband Agbagbe Buba is late. She has 3 children namely:,Aondona 15,Eucharia 13, Naome 8yrs respectively. She is from sengev council Ward Tse -Agagbe village and stays at room 14 in RCM school.
“Her daughter Eucharia started scratching her body and she bought some medicine for her but it got worst everyday and now, it has turned into sore all over her body and she can’t take to hospital because of money.
“Then there is the case of Mrs. Mnena Stephen 20yrs old from Gaambe-ushin council Ward tse-ikyumbur village. She is married to Ukpaagh Stephen 30yrs. They have two( 2) children Wandoo 2 yrs and stay in room 11 St. Francis Xavier. After the birth of her last daughter Franca till today, milk does not come out from her breast due to malnutrition. She manages to buy a card of glucose to feed her child but it is not enough. This is the horrible situation here*, Jacob lamented.
Responding to the issues, the Executive Secretary State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA James Iorpuu merely said that they had distributed 200 bags of rice to the camp alone during the flag off of food distribution in June which was done by the State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.