Some Internally Displaced Persons‘ (IDP) camps across the six geo-political zones are set to receive a helping hand from the spouses of the members of the 9th House of Representatives.
This is as the wife of the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, Salamatu led scores of members of the 9th House of Representatives Members’ Spouses Association (9th HORMSA) to the Kuchingoro IDPs camp for the maiden edition of Project Uplift where a health and wellness talk by officials of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA) took place and a mobile clinic health check where blood and other tests were carried out on the IDPs and members of the Kuchingoro community.
In a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Julcit Onigbogi, the IDPs were also offered an exercise and fitness session as well as a beauty parlour where women and children had their hair done and could access other basics.
Security and self-defense sessions were conducted as the IDPs got home and food items.
Mrs. Salamatu Gbajabiamila was accompanied by the wife of the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mrs. Nafiza Idris Wase and the wife of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hajia Hajara Alkali Baba, among others.
Wife of Speaker of the House of Representatives/President, 9th House of Representatives Members’ Spouses Association (9th HORMSA), Mrs. Salamatu Gbajabiamila (5th left) with some members of the association during the maiden edition of HORMSA’s Project Uplift at the Kuchingoro IDPs camp on Thursday, November 18, 2021. Photo: Speaker’s Media Unit
Saying that the 9th HORMSA was not only in the camp to encourage the IDPs not to see their current plight as permanent, Mrs. Gbajabiamila added that the maiden edition of Project Uplift was meant to provide succour and lift their spirit in the camp.
According to her, the association has been undertaking charitable causes since its inception, in line with its objectives, by impacting meaningfully on the lives of Nigerian women and children particularly in the provision of food and medical facilities in different parts of the country.
“The information we have gathered shows that the people of the camps do not have access to public hospitals or healthcare facilities.
“Moved by this sad reality, we communicated with the authorities in charge of certain IDPs camps to identify the people’s key needs, many of which are acute and immediate. It is on that basis that we are here under the umbrella of ‘Project Lift’.
Gbajabiamila’s wife noted that the issue of women and children is central to the ideals of 9th HORMSA which was the reason behind the plan to take Project Uplift to some identified IDPs camps in the six geo-political zones.
“The mission of Project Lift is to spread love and compassion to women, our sisters, across these communities, and remind them of their dignity, role and status in society, in spite of the temporary hardships they face. To achieve this, Project Lift will visit and distribute relief items to women and children living in IDPs camps across the country”.
She also urged relevant government agencies to double their efforts at ensuring that the plights of the IDPs are improved while intensifying plans to return them to their homes.
She said: “I hope that today will mark the beginning of a journey of sisterhood with you but more importantly, signpost a renewed hope for the future, for women of this camp, for their families and for this community”.
The Director-General of NPHDA, Prof. Dr. Faisal Shuaib, who was represented by Dr. Sam Obasi, in his goodwill message, urged the IDPs to take the issues of personal hygiene, vaccination, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and open defecation seriously as they have severe health implications if taken for granted.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of several home items to the women in the camp, while the children also had a great time with games, dance and educational pep talks.
