Group Takes Family Planning Sensitisation to Benue IDPs Camp
By Ogbenyi Collins
Some concerned persons have emphasised the importance of aggressive sensitisation of Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs), in Benue State on family planning and provision of modern contraceptives to curb the spread of diseases and increase in population at the camps.
They stated that while reacting to the discovery of five persons infected with HIV and Tuberculosis by a medical team that carried out free screening and treatment at Tse_ Yandev, federal housing estate, North bank Camp.
Mrs Mwuese Orsaa said for the increasing cases of sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies to be checked among the displaced persons, family planning services should be provided in the various camps within the state.
Philip Terfaa, and Susan Onah who noted that IDPs are usually faced with crisis related violence like rape and prostitution, said adequate knowledge on sexual reproductive health should be the right of every one, especially women to enable them make informed choices even in the IDPs’ camps.
Onah particularly noted that the alternative shettle provided for the displaced persons are usually congested, with family members living in one room space, stressing that the condition has often resulted to unplanned pregnancy.
When contacted the state family Planning Coordinator, Mrs Comfort Abaa said although a team of health personnel had visited the camps to sensitise the IDPs, on sexual reproductive health, more would still be done to address their family Planning needs.
She added that already the ministry of health and human services has mapped out plans to carry out sensitization and distribution of some commodities in the camps.
