Women at the Wassa Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp have called for improved healthcare, economic empowerment and education to help them rebuild their lives with dignity.
They made the appeal at the fifth anniversary of the Civitas Auxilium Foundation (CAF) and the launch of Project RISE on Monday in Abuja.
Mrs Daliyah Yusuf, who represented the camp’s women, called for affordable healthcare and education, secure access to farmland, and livelihood opportunities for displaced families.
She urged the government and its partners to introduce an identification card system that would allow IDPs to access treatment at public hospitals at little or no cost.
Yusuf said the high cost of healthcare had contributed to preventable complications and deaths among women and children in the camp.
“Recently, we lost three women to complications during childbirth, and one of them died alongside her twin babies.
“We had no nearby hospital, and by the time we could get a vehicle to take her for surgery, she had lost so much blood and died,” she said.
She added that children in the camp had also recently died from waterborne diseases.
Yusuf appealed to the government, organisations and philanthropists to provide displaced families with livelihood opportunities so they could become self-reliant and reintegrate into society.
Mrs Hafsat Hamman, the camp’s women’s leader, also decried the lack of accessible healthcare services.
“I appeal to the government and well-meaning Nigerians to provide a hospital or functional health centre because many lives have been lost before we could get transport to health facilities,” she said.
Mrs Helen Luka, the camp’s women’s church leader, commended CAF for giving displaced women a platform to express their concerns.
She praised the organisation’s ongoing support, particularly in education, healthcare and women’s empowerment.
Mrs Janet Adah, a teacher in the community, stressed the need for a secondary school to reduce dropout rates among displaced children.
“We don’t have any secondary school around here. Many parents cannot afford transportation, so their children drop out or engage in petty trading to survive,” she said.
Mrs Elizabeth Duile, CAF’s executive director and founder, said the foundation had continued to support vulnerable communities through interventions in education, health, literacy and women’s empowerment.
She reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to building resilient, equitable and self-reliant communities through capacity-building, innovation and improved access to essential services.
Duile said Project RISE aims to empower women affected by poverty, displacement and vulnerability in Benue and the FCT through vocational training and entrepreneurship.
“We aim to build practical skills in at least 100 women in catering, baking, bag-making and other vocational trades, while providing them with essential tools and equipment,” she said.
The six-month initiative will create sustainable livelihood opportunities, Duile said, calling on stakeholders to support its implementation.
“Don’t just celebrate with us; partner with us. Support our programmes, open doors, share your expertise and help us create opportunities for more women, children and families,” she said.
Dr Benedict Aliku, chief executive officer of Equipping the Needy Initiative, represented by Rev. Nathaniel Agu, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting displaced people.
“We have seen the impact of CAF’s interventions in transforming lives, and we assure you of our continuous support toward achieving these goals,” he said.
Mrs Gloria Adah, secretary of Junior Chamber International (JCI), also reaffirmed the organisation’s support for initiatives that promote women’s empowerment and assist vulnerable communities.
Ms Nazi Essien, executive director of Mercy Eleos Frontido Foundation, represented by Lisa Robert, called for stronger partnerships to expand the impact of community programmes.
The event also featured awards for philanthropists, organisations and IDPs who had contributed to improving the lives of women and children in the camp.
