NEWS: Children At IDP Camps Needs Protection And Psychological Support - NEMA

By: Aisha Sa'ad

    Ministry for women Affairs in collaboration  with  UNICEF  holds  coordinating  meeting  with Team Leaders  on Child  protection  and Psycho-social  support services  for  children  in IDP camps at Conference Hall, Ministry  for  Women  Affairs.

   The  purpose  of  the  meeting  is  to  discuss  with  different  stakeholders  present  at the  meeting  on the  challenges  faced by  the  IDPS  and the  various  Agencies  who support  them and  how to   tackle  the  problems.

    According to NEMA official, Mr. Balarabe Musa from NYSC Camp Damare, Some  challenges  they  encounter  with  the  IDPS are ; diversion  of  food items, Drugs  and other facilities given to them  to markets, delay  in reporting  health  conditions and breastfeeding Mothers need  to  be  sensitise  on  how  to  take  good  care  of  their  children.

   Some  Medical  personnel  also lamented  on the  attitudes  of IDPS  toward  drugs  and other  health facilities  give  to them, some  divert their  own  to market  while others abandon it.

    A  representative  of  Sabon Gari camp Mal. Musa Baba  Mentioned  Some Problems  In his thus; Lack of  water  Supply, Educational  facilities, and Health  facilities.

A representative from Ministry of Justice,   Barr. Hauwa  Muhammad  also made it known  to the  Team Leaders  how  they  assist  the  IDPS  by providing them with Food items, Clothes, and Educational  facilities.

   In the same vein, the  founder of  compassionate  foundation  Mrs. Maria Onu  in her  contribution  called  on  Government  and  NGOs to  join  hands  together  in other  to  assist  the  less  previlege  in  the  society .

   Lastly, a  consultant  from UNICEF  Hajiya  Hannatu  Ahmad  discussed  with  the  Team Leaders  on  how  to  handle  issues  of  Rape, Child abuse , Malnutrition, Child Labour  and  Molestation.

 Those  who  attended  the  meeting  are; UNICEF  officials, Staff  from  Ministry  of women  Affairs, Social  Welfare  Officers, NEMA  Officials, Medical  Personnel,   Members  of  Child  Protection  Network,  Lawyers,  Camp Coordinators, and  Journalists.