Benue Govt Blows N160m On Snakebites For IDPs While Victims Rot In Camps, Residents Fume

The Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, says it has spent more than N160 million on treatment of snakebite victims between March and September as part of healthcare services for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, and vulnerable persons in the state. adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Executive Secretary of SEMA, James Iorpuu, disclosed this while outlining the agency’s interventions in healthcare, food distribution, protection, education, resettlement and livelihood support for displaced persons.

He said 248 community reporters had been trained to monitor and report incidents in IDP camps and host communities, while 163 displaced children had enrolled in a federal government exchange programme.

He said the agency was working with partners including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, to facilitate resettlement and help displaced families rebuild livelihoods.

“We have been spending money on healthcare for our displaced persons. Between March and September, we spent more than N160 million on snakebites alone,” Iorpuu said.

He said the agency had made arrangements for IDPs requiring medical attention to receive treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, with medical personnel including two nurses coordinating assessment, stabilisation and referrals to specialists.

“One of our major challenges is transportation. We do not have sufficient mobility resources to convey patients to medical facilities promptly, but we continue to make arrangements to ensure that those who need medical attention receive assistance,” he said.

According to him, food distribution is only one aspect of its mandate and the agency has continued distribution despite reduction in supplies, while also covering healthcare, education, protection, resettlement and livelihood support.

“On protection, we have trained 248 community reporters who provide real-time information about incidents in IDP camps and surrounding communities. Where cases of sexual and gender-based violence are reported, we refer them to the police for appropriate action,” he said.

“On education, 163 displaced children have enrolled in the secondary school exchange programme. We want to ensure that displacement does not permanently deprive these children of schooling.”

“Regarding resettlement, we have moved displaced persons out of school buildings in Naka to a designated location. We are also working with partners, including UNHCR, on resettlement interventions involving shelters, healthcare facilities and other basic infrastructure,” Iorpuu added.

He said at Akile in Makurdi Local Government Area, about 110 displaced persons had been moved to an area where they can begin rebuilding lives through farming.

However, the disclosure has sparked widespread reactions among residents who argue that government’s priority should be returning IDPs to their ancestral homes rather than abandoning them in camps to suffer hunger and poor living conditions.

“These challenges cannot be addressed by SEMA alone. We need coordinated efforts involving state and federal governments, local authorities, humanitarian organisations and affected communities,” Iorpuu said.