Over 200 babies were born in a single month to displaced mothers in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, findings in Benue State, have revealed.
The figure was revealed by the Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organisation (UNICEF/WHO) Humanitarian Health Response IDP Outreach.
It was carried out by the Benue State Primary Healthcare Board at the Ortese and Ichwa IDPs camps in Guma and Makurdi local government areas.
Addressing the camp’s advancements, Executive Secretary of the Benue State Primary Health Care Board, Grace Wende, pointed out the notable rise in newborn numbers, underscoring the necessity for governmental response.
Wende, who visited the camp, said the number of new births was quite high and the government would need to do something about it.
“I saw a very interesting sight. I’ve been in these camps often as part of our coordination beat and as part of the main role of primary health care.
“We are part of the major leading partners in supporting the IDP camps in terms of providing healthcare personnel who will be providing services to these various camps.
“Today I saw many pregnant women and young children and it seems that there is a very high level of fertility and childbirth within these camps. Today alone we noticed that there are 200 new births per month. It is quite high, and the government needs to do something about it,” she said.
Editor’s note: This picture was used for illustrative purposes
(Daily Trust)
