Benue–UNICEF Humanitarian Health Outreach reaches Thousands in IDP Camps and Host Communities

The Benue State Primary Health Care Board (BNSPHCB), with support from UNICEF and other partners, provided 17,780 medical consultations to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable members of host communities in six local government areas in the State.

The Humanitarian Health Outreach (HHO) and Routine Immunization (RI) services, both funded by UNICEF, were delivered in Agatu, Guma, Gwer West, Kwande, Logo and Makurdi. The interventions aimed to improve access to essential primary health care for women, children, adolescents, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

BNSPHCB Acting Executive Secretary Pharm. Samuel Terwase Mbatsoron led an unscheduled supervisory visit to the Daudu 1 and Daudu 2 IDP camps. He said the visit was intended to assess the quality of care provided by health workers and determine whether they had the support needed to serve camp residents effectively.

Mbatsoron said the visit formed part of integrated supportive supervision (ISS), which aims to strengthen health services for pregnant women, children, vulnerable populations and underserved communities.

In an interview, he commended UNICEF for its continued support for the state’s humanitarian health response. He said UNICEF had consistently supported services in designated IDP camps across the state since December 2023.

According to Mbatsoron, the interventions have helped curb disease outbreaks, increase herd immunity in the camps and improve the health of vulnerable populations. He added that UNICEF currently engages about 80 staff across the camps.

However, Mbatsoron expressed concern about shortages of medicines in IDP camps, which he attributed to donor fatigue and declining resources.

Technical Supervisor Dr. Austin Adanu said the intervention was delivered by UNICEF-supported temporary staff, including medical officers, nurses, midwives, community health extension workers (CHEWs), laboratory and pharmacy technicians, a psychologist, data assistants, clinic assistants and cleaners.

Adanu said the programme recorded 61 consultations involving persons with disabilities, reflecting its focus on equitable and inclusive service delivery.

Maternal health was a key component of the outreach. Between May and September 2026, the programme recorded 2,961 antenatal care (ANC) contacts and 441 deliveries.

Adanu also reported 80 referrals and 167 laboratory tests. He said that although many cases were managed at the outreach level, referral documentation, counter-referral and laboratory diagnostic capacity needed to be strengthened.

The routine immunisation component targeted children at risk of missing vaccinations because of displacement and mobility. A total of 8,376 vaccinations were recorded.

During the period, teams administered 881 BCG doses, 809 OPV0 doses and 800 hepatitis B birth doses. In the primary series, 1,113 children received the third dose of the pentavalent vaccine, while 1,127 received OPV1 and 1,049 received OPV3.

Adanu said 1,336 children received measles vaccinations, describing the result as significant in densely populated IDP settings where measles can spread readily.

The technical supervisor noted considerable variation in results across locations. PHC Anyiase in Kwande recorded high outputs for several antigens, while Naka IDP Camp in Gwer West recorded low routine immunisation output. He said the difference called for a targeted review of population movement, service interruptions, vaccine availability and reporting gaps.

Adanu said the combined HHO and RI strategy provided an important safety net for vulnerable populations and showed substantial demand for integrated services, including care beyond treatment of illness.

He recommended systematically linking outreach services with existing primary health care facilities and Local Government Health Authorities; maintaining supplies of essential medicines and vaccines; updating immunisation line lists and tracking defaulters; improving referral follow-up; and strengthening engagement with IDP leaders, women’s groups and youth groups.

UNICEF currently supports health outreach and immunisation in IDP camps across Benue State, including Abagena, Ukpiam and Ortese. Beneficiaries said they were satisfied with the quality of care received. They commended UNICEF’s humanitarian health outreach and appealed to the state government to build on the support by procuring medicines and sustaining health services in camps and host communities.

 Grace Akure

Information Officer

Primary Health Care Board