Gov’t creates free medicare centres for IDPs

By Stanley Onyekwere

In a bid to mitigate the healthcare challenge facing the over 36,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), living in the nation’s capital, the FCT Administration has commenced free medical care for the IDPs.
To this end, two hospitals, Wuse General Hospital and Asokoro General Hospital, have been designated as places for free treatment of IDPs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This was disclosed by Director-General, FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Dr Abbas Idriss, recently when he received in his office, executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT council.
Idriss revealed that about 400 women living in IDP camps have been trained on soap, pomade and antiseptic making, while another 200 women were also trained on rice padding, to ensure that the IDPs have means of livelihood.
He added that the administration has also enrolled over 1,000 children, living in the IDP camps, into public schools, while uniforms and school fees were made available for them, even as he commended some nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in the FCT, for providing books and uniforms for the children.
Earlier in his remarks, chairman of NUJ, FCT council, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche, had made case for appropriate funding for FEMA, because the of the enormous tasks and responsibilities of the agency, especially advocacy, rehabilitation and assistance to those affected by one form of disaster or the other.
Ogbeche praised FEMA for setting the pace in disaster and post disaster management in the FCT and for his service to the administration and residents of the Territory.“
“Let me also commend you for your impressive undertakings in the committee that looked into the violence clashes, occasioned by the EndSARS protests in the FCT.
“For the fact that you worked within the time frame and came up with a painstaking report, speaks of your commitment, dedication and unalloyed commitment to, not just peace and stability in the FCT, but it also demonstrates your passion for this country,” he stated.