Some Internally Displaced Persons‘ (IDP) camps across the six geo-political zones are set to receive a helping hand from the spouses of the members of the 9th House of Representatives.
This is as the wife of the Speaker, Mrs Salamatu Gbajabiamila, led scores of members of the 9th House of Representatives Members’ Spouses Association (9th HORMSA) to the Kuchingoro IDP camp for the maiden edition of Project Uplift.
In her speech, Mrs Gbajabiamila, stated that the 9th HORMSA was in the camp to encourage the IDPs not to see their current plight as permanent, adding that it was also meant to provide succour and lift their spirit in the camp.
According to her, the association has been undertaking charitable causes since its inception, in line with its objectives, by impacting meaningfully on the lives of Nigerian women and children particularly in the provision of food and medical facilities in different parts of the country.
Wife of Speaker of the House of Representatives (M); wife of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, (R) and the wife of the Inspector General of Police (IGP),
“The information we have gathered shows that the people of the camps do not have access to public hospitals or healthcare facilities.
“Moved by this sad reality, we communicated with the authorities in charge of certain IDPs camps to identify the people’s key needs, many of which are acute and immediate. It is on that basis that we are here under the umbrella of ‘Project Lift’.
Mrs Gbajabiamila, noted that the issue of women and children is central to the ideals of 9th HORMSA which was the reason behind the plan to take Project Uplift to some identified IDPs camps in the six geo-political zones.
She also urged relevant government agencies to double their efforts at ensuring that the plights of the IDPs are improved while intensifying plans to return them to their homes.
The Director-General of NPHDA, Prof. Dr. Faisal Shuaib, who was represented by Dr. Sam Obasi, urged the IDPs to take the issues of personal hygiene, vaccination, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and open defecation seriously as they have severe health implications if taken for granted.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of several home items to the women in the camp, while the children also had a great time with games, dance and educational pep talks.
RADIO NIGERIA