Charles Ekanem|19 February 2018
Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu last week led a joint team of United Nations Human Right Commission for Refugees, United Nation Population Fund, World Health Organization, World Food Organization, Rhema Care, UNICEF, Save the Children and Red Cross Society on a fact finding mission to proffer solutions to the plight of Cameroon Refugees in Cross River State NegroidHaven can report authoritatively.
Dr Edu noted that Governor Ben Ayade had sent relief materials to the refugees and asylum seekers from Cameroon and he is committed to doing more.
"We are also working to cover them in the fourth coming measles vaccination campaign while improving health care delivery at the primary health centres in the communities where the are staying".
She stated that the State do not support camp but rather think the federal Government should work with partners and local actors to provide support to the refugees in the communities, fix social amenities like schools and health systems, provide cash transfer and support them and the communities they reside in. Refugees integrated in communities at the long run fare better than those put in camp that soon suffer after international organisations pull out.
"Let me show you the grave of my mother We buried her last week" " This is where my child was buried yesterday", " no food" We have not eaten for days and am breastfeeding…I keep fainting" : Cameroon soldiers came here with tankers; we were scared and ran for our lives" we don't want to be put in camps because we think when the Nigerian Government gather us together, they will hand us over to our killers the Camerounian Government" As men, women, and even children told their stories, it became clear that Nigeria Government needs to take immediate actions in line with international humanitarian law and ethics, working with international agencies, donors, partners and locals to bring solutions to these people or lose more to severe acute malnutrition and diseases both communicable and non communicable; several refugees spoke .
Children make up almost 50% of refugees and need to be protected, many women are either breastfeeding or have New babies, mattress, basic education, lack of assess to health care is a serious challenge.
Charles Ekanem
Writes from Calabar
