Dozens of people have reportedly been hit with measles at various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Benue State over the last few days, Africa Daily News, New York has gathered.
Over the last few days, no fewer than 60 people who are mostly children above the age of five, had been infected in some of the camps located in Guma Local Government Area of the State according to reports.
Africa Daily News, New York learnt that at least 30 people cases were reported in the Ortese IDPs camp in Guma while the remaining cut across the many other IDPs camps in the State.
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The Executive Secretary of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Emmanuel Shior, who confirmed the development to reporters in Makurdi pointed out that ‘The government, through the Ministry of Health, is on top of the situation.’
Mitch Rhyner, a Benue Project Coordinator, Medicins Sans Frontieres- Doctors Without Borders (MSF), further admitted the recent outbreak of the disease in some of the camps where his organisation has been working in the State over the last few weeks.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), however, showed their level of displeasure with the little humanitarian responses at the various IDPs’ camps in Benue State so far calling for more Government attention.
Rhyner decried the deplorable living conditions of the IDPs over the weekend during a photo exhibition/ interaction with journalists which was held in Makurdi to mark the organisation’s 50 years of providing medical humanitarian aid to people in need across the country.
He went on to express serious concern that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) is not adequately being funded to meet the challenges and deliver quality healthcare to the people.
He stressed the need for the United Nations humanitarian arms as well as other donors to bring succour to the displaced people languishing in the Benue IDPs camps.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
