UNFPA Donates Health Kits to Support Benue's Vulnerable

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) donated reproductive health kits to Benue State, Nigeria, during an official handover ceremony at the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BENSEMA) headquarters in Makurdi. Muriel Mafico, UNFPA's resident representative in Nigeria, stated that the kits would benefit 100,000 people, particularly vulnerable groups such as internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, and girls affected by the humanitarian crisis in Benue.

Mafico emphasized that while the supplies are crucial, the effectiveness of the intervention relies on properly trained health workers. UNFPA plans to collaborate with the Benue State College of Nursing Sciences to build the capacity of nurses, midwives, and doctors, and to establish youth-friendly centers in IDP camps.

The donation was acknowledged by Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and Deputy Governor Sam Od, who expressed gratitude for the support from UNFPA and the Japanese government, highlighting the critical need for improved maternal and newborn healthcare services in the state.