How UNICEF supports Borno save children, women in IDP camps

By Tada JUTHA, Maiduguri

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Health Manager, Dr. Clement Adams has said that emergency health services have improved to save lives in Borno.

According to him, women and children are prevented from dying in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and host communities in the state.

Adams on Monday stated in Maiduguri that said there is however urgent need to expand services to more conflict affected children.

He noted that despite the delivery of healthcare services in IDP camps, there are more children to be reached, particularly the hard to reach areas.

“We’ll not relent in our advocacy to ensure that children living in inaccessible locations are reached with essential services,” he said.

Excited with UNICEF support for healthcare in camps, Inna Adams, a pregnant mother with four children said: “I have not paid a kobo since I enrolled at this clinic in April. I’ve also received drugs and counselling from the midwives at the Teachers Village IDP camp.

“All is well with me and my unborn baby thanks to the support from the clinic and UNICEF.”

Inna, according to IDP health personnel had the second antenatal care enrolment in two years. She however lamented her previous pregnancy with the state of regret and sorrow.

Continuing, he added: “I had a stillbirth during the COVID-19 lockdown. The health centres were closed and it took a while to arrive at a hospital. I eventually had a stillbirth, and it was not a good time for my family.”

“But I am grateful that my other children are healthy. I am pregnant again and I am happy that the health centre in the camp is open.

She noted that even the nurses take good care, as the women and their children had not complained to the IDP camp managers.

Consequently, infant mortality in Nigeria has been on the decline in recent years, but West African country remains among the five worst for preventable infant deaths globally, with 57 deaths per 1,000 live births.

UNICEF, with support from donor agencies including the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is providing integrated healthcare services to reduce maternal, infant and child mortality in 50 IDP camps and host communities in Northeast.

The clinic at the Teachers’ Village IDP camp provides free antenatal and postnatal support for displaced women, birth registration and immunization for children, and other healthcare delivery services.