By Tosin Kolade
Abuja – The Yusra Peace Care Foundation, an NGO, has called for the construction of delivery rooms in Durumi IDPs camp in FCT to reduce the risk of maternal and child mortality.
Dr Fahad Muhammed, who is in charge of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) clinic, made the call
in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.
He said that providing such a room in the camp would help in promoting the wellbeing of women and children.
He added that the organisation had saddled itself with providing free health care services to Internally Displaced Persons, noting that it was collaborating with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants.
He explained that the foundation also collaborate with rotary club to provide drugs and needed humanitarian assistance to displaced persons in the camp.
He noted that the health facility used was set up by the Nigerian Army officers Wives Association (NAOWA) to provide free medical services to the IDPs.
He pointed out that the group, founded in January 2017, tried to tackle common ailments such as malaria, upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, anaemia in pregnancy and skin infections.
He said the NGO funds itself, saying drug donations were done by the refugees’ commission toward meeting the needs of IDPs in the country.
On challenges faced by the group, Muhammed said there was need for more drugs and more health workers to help to cater for the needs of IDPs.
He also said that the IDPs camp needed a delivery room to take deliveries of pregnant women and a mini-laboratory to run tests to help manage patients.
“We need a nurse or a midwife that can stay throughout the night to take deliveries because it is currently being done by traditional birth attendants.”
The doctor said the NGO, in collaboration with Women in Da’awah, a Muslim women group, and MedicAid, carried out medical outreach at Rugan Fulani, a community on the outskirts of Mpape in the FCT.
According to him, more than 200 people suffering from various medical conditions are attended to, with referrals given to those in need.
Muhammed called for more partnerships through donations, voluntary services and other relevant services to keep the foundation running.
He added that the overall goal was to see the establishment of a world-class health centre which would
cater for the medical needs of people, irrespective of tribe, religion and affiliations.
Mrs Hadiza Sani-Kangiwa, the Federal High Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, had urged governments to advocate for peace to curb displacements.
She said “when there is peace and when human rights are adequately protected, it will reduce the desperation of people wanting to leave their abodes in search of safer haven.”
She added that the plights of vulnerable groups gave great concern, especially women and girls.
The foundation is a non-profit charity group with the sole purpose of providing free healthcare services to less privileged population.