ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – A United States-based charity organisation, named Project Cure, has donated a 40-feet container filled with assorted medical equipment and consumables to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to enhance its humanitarian services to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Dalori Camp, Maiduguri.
The container contained over 2,000 syringes, dressing materials, instrument, hospital trolleys and bed, among others.
Taking the delivery of the materials on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said it was no more news that the air force, is fully committed to ending the insurgency in the North-east.
Abubakar, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), AVM Augustine Jekennu, stated that apart from being committed to winning the war, NAF is also committed to winning the minds and hearts of the IDPs through humanitarian services.
He however, assured the organisation that the items would be leaving immediately to the Dalori camp in the North-east for the benefit of those it was meant to serve, while also promising that it would be properly utilised.
Handing over the items on behalf of Project Cure, the country director, Walter Reed Programme, Mr, Robbie Nelson, applauded NAF on the humanitarian assistance its presently carrying out in the IDPs camp in the North-east.
Nelson stressed that he looked forward to the deployment of the equipment in the next two weeks.
Earlier, the Chief of medical Services, AVM. Saleh Shinkafi, said that NAF has developed multifaceted approach in the fight against the insurgents, which include; the use of air power in its entire ramification to degrade the insurgents and support the ground forces to carry out their activities against the insurgents.
He added that NAF has been embarking on a comprehensive winning the hearts and minds through coordinated humanitarian activities such as; medical outreach, provision of amenities like portable water, tents for accommodation and proper sanitary facilities for large population of IDPs which are found in various camps across the country.
Shinkafi stated: “through its various medical outreaches and establisment of a secondary healthcare facility in one of the largest IDPs camp at Dalori, Maiduguri, the NAF has provided medical care to over 30, 000 and over 5,000 inpatient care to IDPs since the beginning of the programme,”
“Additionally, over 150 surgeries for various conditions including eye surgeries were carried out for IDPs,” he said.
Shinkafi noted that the donated items are much needed supplies in all the camps and hence, they would certainly improve the health status and well being of the IDPs attending the benefitting health facilities.
He added that some of the equipment would be used to enhance the NAF emergency hospitals for IDPs at Dalori, establish a ward and delivery suite at the clinic in Maikohi IDPs camp in Yola; as well as three other healthcare facilities in IDPs camp located in Yola and Maiduguri.