UN empowers clinics to treat rape victims, pregnant IDPs

The United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) has flagged off distribution of health kits to victims of rape as well as pregnant women affected by Boko Haram insurgency.

Speaking during the Flagg-off at Nana Asmau Maternity Centre in Yola on Monday, the Deputy Country Representative of UNFPA, Koffi Kouame ‎said the fund is targeting 4.5 million IDPs in North East.

“I am pleased to be here today to flag off the distribution of 11,000 dignity kits and 256 comprehensive health kits that will benefit survivors of insurgency and communities in which they live. 

“This new round of distribution to Adamawa, Borno and Gombe states is co-funded by the Government of Japan and UN Central Emergency Response Fund (UN-CERF).”

He said the donated materials would provide range of solutions to beneficiaries including prevention of HIV/AIDS.

“The reproductive health kit distributed today will provide healthy timing and health timing and birth spacing services to women of reproductive age‎, commodities of pre-natal, safe delivery and post natal care for pregnant women, treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including the prevention of HIV/AIDS and the clinical treatment and management of rape”, he said.

He noted that in addition to health kits, thousands of displaced women will receive supplies that will help strengthen their self-esteem in crisis situation. The items include sanitary towels, clothings and under wears.

The Secretary General of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, Barrister Bello Hamman said his group would monitor the delivery of the items to the primary healthcare centres across the state.

He stressed the need for stakeholders to sustain existing partnerships to drastically reduce mortality rate of pregnant women and new mothers to the barest minimum.

In his remark, the Chairman, Adamawa State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Abdullahi Belel commended the donors for assisting Nigeria to solve  health challenges in North East. 

He added that the state government will continue to partner with UN agencies to improve health care delivery in the state.

By Tom Garba, Yola

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