A Non-governmental organisation, Refuge Foundation, in collaboration with Doctors’ Health Initiative and Beacon Hills Smiles Foundation, has provided medical service to over 150 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Epe community, Lagos.

The medical outreach team made up of general physicians, optometrists, dentists, and other health workers during the outreach carried out dental procedures on two individuals, while the optometrists recommended glasses to some IDPs, mostly the elderly and provided them with free glasses.

Apart from conducting other medical tests such as blood sugar level, typhoid, blood pressure, the team also provided the IDPs with free drugs.

Speaking at the event, Founder, Refuge Foundation, Mrs. Ogonna Kanu, said the group is working to create awareness on the displacement crisis in Nigeria and to cater to the basic needs of displaced people.

She said the foundation organised the medical outreach to help with the health challenges of IDPs who are in the poor income cadre.

“These people earn a pittance. Most often you find when they have ailments, they rather look for other means or when they think of going to hospital and the costs, they would rather do traditional or home remedies. We thought it would be good to offer them some basic healthcare,” Kanu said.

She lamented that there are still people with greater health challenges but without support, they will not seek medical treatment due to the cost.
“IDPs, I believe, should be able to get some level of healthcare from the government for free. If this is available, it will go a long way and we may not even need to conduct medical outreach.”

She said concerned organisations and individuals can join in the foundation’s mission to IDPs and help alleviate their plights. The foundation’s efforts go beyond medical outreach as they are focused on helping IDPs with basic needs, shelter, and education.

A beneficiary, Christopher Ojah, an IDP from Benue State, who had undergone a dental surgery, said he has been in pain before the procedure since last year. He showered prayers on the foundation for coming to their aid, adding that before, it was difficult for him to sleep and even drink water.

One of the leaders in the community, James Kamai, from Chibok, Borno State, commended the foundation for the intervention programme and prayed that God will reward them.