A total of 49 babies have been safely delivered within the past month at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp located at the International Market in Makurdi, Benue State, while 380 more pregnant women are currently nearing childbirth, officials have disclosed.
This development was made public by Mrs. Grace Ashi Wende, Executive Secretary of the Benue State Primary HealthCare Board (BSPHCB), during an Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) visit to the camp clinic.
Wende noted that the camp, which is home to victims of recent violent attacks in Yelwata, has also seen 490 women access antenatal care (ANC) services in the past month alone—a surge that reflects the growing demand for maternal and child health services in the overcrowded settlement.
“The 49th baby has safely been delivered at the Ultramodern Market IDP camp clinic,” she said, commending the healthcare team for their dedication, with support from the Benue State Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and other UN agencies.
According to Hobnob News, the IDP clinic has become a lifeline for displaced families, offering consultations and basic health services for individuals of all ages. To cope with the increasing demand, infrastructural improvements are being implemented.
Wende praised UNICEF for facilitating the construction of a borehole and the installation of a 3HP hybrid submersible pump, with water reticulation currently ongoing. She also acknowledged the Benue State Environmental Sanitation Agency (BENSESA) for managing waste evacuation, and Save the Children International for supplying hygiene kits to support critical Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services.
As the clinic struggles to meet the needs of hundreds of expectant mothers and newborns, Wende emphasized the urgent need for sustained support from partners and stakeholders to safeguard the health and dignity of displaced populations across the state.
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