GOV. ORTOM APPLAUDS ESLF FOR ADDING VALUE TO THROUGH HUMANITARIAN WORK…CALLS ON FG TO REDEEM PLEDGE TO BENUE IDPS ON SYMBOLIC FLAG OFF OF 10-DAY OUTREACH.
Governor Samuel Ortom has applauded Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF) for taking its signature programme – the free medical outreach – to vulnerable Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across Benue State in a compassionate move to ameliorate their plight.
Governor Ortom gave this commendation at Gbajimba IDP Camp I in Guma Local Government Area during the official flag-off ceremony of the free Camp-To-Camp Medical Outreach for IDPs organised by the Benue State Government through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in partnership with ESLF and Office of the First Lady.
The Governor who was represented by the Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Joseph Ngbea, pointed out that ESLF has, since inception, added value to the government and people of the State through its many humanitarian services targeted at improving their lot.
The Benue State’s helmsman who lamented the continued stay of men, women and children at various IDP camps in the State due to insecurity that sent them away from their ancestral homes, stressed that the situation exposed them to sub-standard living conditions including unhygienic environment that resulting in health problems like cholera, malaria and several other health challenges.
The ongoing free medical care, he pointed out, was therefore a strategic intervention that would be of great impact in their lives and promised to support the Foundation’s humanitarian work.
The Governor called on the Federal Government to redeem its financial pledge made by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to facilitate IDPs re-settlement back to their ancestral homes.
In her address, Founder of ESLF and First Lady of Benue State, Dr. Eunice Ortom, who said the free medical outreach was targeted at 10 thousand persons, commended the State Government and well-meaning individuals for their support.
Dr. Ortom lamented the vicious and incessant attacks on farmers by marauding herdsmen which has displaced many men, women and children resulting in an alarming IDP figure of over one million persons languishing in camps across the State.
She condemned the displacement which has affected the livelihoods of IDPs and decried the deplorable living condition at the camps which has affected them socially, psychologically as well as health wise.
The First Lady pointed out that the outreach aims at bringing succour to the people many who are suffering psychological trauma due to loss of loved ones, rape or getting maimed for life. She appreciated the support so far received from development partners like Doctors Without Borders and pointed out that her Foundation deemed it necessary to begin surgical procedures during its medical outreaches so as to meet the growing need for surgery which most vulnerable persons cannot afford.
Calling on partners to support implementation of the outreach to other locations, Dr. Ortom pointed out that ESLF had before now started a medical outreach targeted at the 272 Council Wards in the State.
She expressed appreciation to development partners, organisations, medical consultants on the team led by Dr. Akor Rijam and Dr. Sam Tor-Agbidiye as well as everyone on the team including volunteers, staff of ESLF and Office of the First Lady for their untiring efforts and sacrifice towards making the outreach a success.
On his part, Executive Secretary of SEMA, Dr. Emmanuel Shior, who underscored the alarming number of IDPs in the State and the challenge this poses, commended the Governor’s wife for her various interventions at various camps through her Foundation.
Speaking, Programme Manager of ESLF, Tine Agernor, said the first phase of this Camp To Camp medical outreach was slated to reach 5 IDP Camps/locations including Gbajimba, Uikpkiam, Daudu 3, Abagena and Agatu to help achieve that society that is without barriers to decent living.
The Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Bem Ageda and Council Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Mr. Caleb Aba who was represented by the Council Secretary, Iorchia Ephraim Oyina, commended ESLF’s humanitarian work and offered to always support it.
Several beneficiaries including Mbapine Nanka, Lydia Azahan, Catherine Shembega and Eunice Mhonon who is a Person With Disability, expressed profound gratitude to the First Lady and the humanitarian work she is doing through ESLF.
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