Benue SEMA Expends N160 Million To Treat Snake Bites Among IDPs

By Ayodele Oni 

As part of efforts to address the healthcare needs of displaced families, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has spent more than N160 million on the treatment of snakebite victims among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable residents between March and September.

The Executive Secretary of SEMA, James Iorpuu, disclosed this while highlighting the agency’s interventions in healthcare, food distribution, education, protection, resettlement and livelihood support for displaced persons across the state.

Iorpuu disclosed thaf many of the displaced persons continue to face difficult living conditions in camps and host communities.

“ We have been spending money on healthcare for our displaced persons. Between March and September, we spent more than N160 million on snakebites alone.”

According to him, SEMA has made arrangements for displaced persons requiring medical attention to receive treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH).

He said medical personnel, including two nurses, were assigned to coordinate the assessment and stabilisation of patients before referring them to specialists where necessary.

However, the agency identified inadequate transportation facilities as a major obstacle to delivering timely medical assistance to victims.

“One of our major challenges is transportation. We do not have sufficient mobility resources to convey patients to medical facilities promptly, but we continue to make arrangements to ensure that those who need medical attention receive assistance.”

On food distribution, the SEMA boss noted that the agency has continued to provide assistance to displaced persons despite a reduction in available supplies

He explained that its humanitarian interventions extended beyond food and medical care to include education, protection, resettlement and programmes designed to help displaced families rebuild their livelihoods.

Iorpuu also disclosed that 248 community reporters were trained to monitor and report incidents within IDP camps and surrounding host communities.

He said the initiative was aimed at improving the agency’s access to timely information about security concerns and other incidents affecting displaced persons.

According to him, cases of sexual and gender-based violence reported through the monitoring network are referred to the police for appropriate action.

In the education sector, the SEMA executive secretary revealed that 163 displaced children had enrolled in a secondary school exchange programme supported by the Federal Government.

He said the initiative was intended to prevent displacement from permanently disrupting the children’s education and future opportunities.

“We want to ensure that displacement does not permanently deprive these children of schooling.”

On resettlement, Iorpuu announced that the agency has relocated displaced persons occupying school buildings in Naka to a designated location to enable the schools to be used for their intended purposes.

He added that SEMA was collaborating with humanitarian partners, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to implement resettlement programmes involving shelter, healthcare facilities and other essential infrastructure.

The agency is also supporting efforts to restore the livelihoods of displaced persons and enable them to become self-reliant.

Iorpuu disclosed that about 110 displaced persons were relocated to Akile, in Makurdi Local Government Area, where they could begin rebuilding their lives through farming.

He said the intervention was part of broader efforts to provide displaced families with opportunities to regain their economic independence and improve their living conditions.