By Nicholas Dechi
The Benue Deputy Governor, Sam Odeh, has assured the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) that reproductive health kits donated for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state will be distributed transparently.
He said the state government would ensure the items reach the intended beneficiaries and are used strictly for the purposes for which they were provided.
Odeh gave the assurance on Tuesday in Makurdi during the official presentation of the reproductive health kits, noting that the state government would establish a monitoring mechanism to ensure accountability and proper tracking of distribution.
“We will ensure that these items are properly utilised and delivered to the actual beneficiaries for whom they are intended,” he said, reaffirming government’s commitment to transparency in humanitarian interventions.
Speaking at the event, the UNFPA Representative in Nigeria, Ms Muriel Mafico, commended the partnership with the Benue Government, noting that their collaboration had already recorded significant progress in addressing humanitarian and health needs.
Mafico said that in spite of achievements made, more work was still required to meet the reproductive health needs of vulnerable populations, particularly displaced women and girls across affected communities.
She explained that the intervention, supported by the Government of Japan, was already making a tangible difference in improving access to essential reproductive health services and restoring hope among displaced persons.
According to her, the reproductive health kits are expected to benefit more than 100,000 people across Benue, significantly improving access to essential maternal and reproductive healthcare services.
She added that UNFPA’s support also included capacity building for nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers in collaboration with the state’s College of Health Sciences.
Mafico further said that the partnership extended to digital literacy, community engagement, peacebuilding and the promotion of social cohesion to support sustainable peace in affected communities.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ejeh, pledged that the items would be distributed transparently and used strictly for their intended humanitarian purpose.
“We are committed to ensuring that these materials are deployed effectively and reach those who need them most,” he said, reaffirming government oversight in the distribution process.
An Internally Displaced Person, Mr Barnabas Bem, expressed appreciation to UNFPA for the intervention, saying the support would improve access to reproductive health services for women and girls in IDP camps.
He said that the donation would significantly enhance the health and wellbeing of displaced families, particularly women and adolescent girls, who previously had limited access to such essential services. NAN
