The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has spent more than ₦160 million on treating snakebite victims between March and September as part of efforts to provide healthcare for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable residents.
The agency’s Executive Secretary, James Iorpuu, disclosed this while outlining its interventions in healthcare, food distribution, protection, education, resettlement and livelihood support for displaced persons across the state.
Iorpuu said the agency had continued to provide assistance despite funding and logistical challenges.
“We have been spending money on healthcare for our displaced persons. Between March and September, we spent more than N160 million on snakebites alone,” he said.
He added that arrangements had been made for displaced persons requiring medical attention to receive treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH).
According to him, medical personnel, including two nurses working with the hospital, assess patients, stabilise them and refer them to specialists when necessary.
However, Iorpuu identified inadequate transportation as a major challenge, noting that the agency lacked sufficient vehicles to convey patients to medical facilities promptly.
The SEMA executive secretary disclosed that 248 community reporters had been trained to monitor and report incidents in IDP camps and surrounding communities.
He said cases of sexual and gender-based violence reported through the mechanism were referred to the police for appropriate action.
The agency is also working to extend the reporting system to more communities while protecting the identities of reporters.
On education, Iorpuu said 163 displaced children had enrolled in a Federal Government secondary school exchange programme.
He explained that the initiative was intended to ensure that displacement did not permanently deprive children of access to education.
Iorpuu added that food distribution remained part of the agency’s responsibilities, although available supplies had reduced.
He stressed that SEMA’s interventions also covered healthcare, education, protection, resettlement and livelihood support.
The agency is collaborating with humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to help displaced families resettle and rebuild their livelihoods.
Iorpuu said displaced persons had been moved out of school buildings in Naka to a designated location as part of efforts to improve their living conditions.
He also disclosed that about 110 displaced persons had been relocated to Akile in Makurdi Local Government Area, where they could begin rebuilding their lives through farming and other productive activities.
According to him, the initiative would enable beneficiaries to cultivate crops, harvest and sell their produce, and retain the proceeds rather than depend indefinitely on humanitarian assistance.
The agency is also working with partners to support resettlement through shelter, healthcare facilities and other basic infrastructure.
Iorpuu said addressing the challenges facing displaced persons required coordinated efforts from state and federal governments, local authorities, humanitarian organisations and affected communities.
He said the agency’s ultimate goal was to ensure that displaced persons could return safely to their ancestral homes, while those unable to return immediately had access to decent shelter, healthcare, education and sustainable livelihoods.
