• Benue gets N886m humanitarian aid
European Union (EU) and two United Nations’ sister agencies – the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) – have injected N8.3 trillion to enhance the health sector, especially in the areas affecting mothers and adolescents in three northern states.
 
Consequently, the steering committee included the Minister of Heath, Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate, representatives of the three sponsors and chairmen of the primary health centres in the concerned states, as well as the commissioners.
 
Under the Strengthening Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health in Adolescent Health (SARAH) project, the EU Country’s Representative, Anthony Ayake, told newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State, that the states, Sokoto and Adamawa, were chosen as pilots for the scheme. 
 
He said 40 Euros is budgeted for the project that has three components in the three pilot states. 
 
Listing the components as policy around adolescents, access issues and data, he explained that the steering committee considered and reviewed Kwara’s health issues and policies, stating: “UNICEF and the UNFPA are executing the SARAH project with 40 Euros.”
 
On the health policies and ideas of the host state, Ayake said: “We are happy and impressed with what we saw and felt.”
 
Pate, on his part, commended Kwara’s youth-friendly health policies and services, noting: “It is there for others to learn its superb coordination.”
 
Represented by the Director and Head of Gender Adolescents Health and the Elderly, Dr. John Ovuoraye, the minister disclosed that the steering committee was inaugurated last December.
 
The UNFPA representative from Lagos Liaison Office, Abigail Msemburi, said the steering committee’s meeting was to assess the progress and impact of the agency in the state.
 
UNICEF’s Health Manager, Dr Fatima Gohar, explained that the exercise was “about supporting adolescents, women and children in the three pilot states to improve their health services.”
 
She said: “A lot of investment had gone into technical support, energy and work done in the three states.”
 
Addressing the visitors, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Al-Imam, praised Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the feats in the health sector amid lean resources.

IN a related development, the EU has disbursed €500,000 (approximately N886,315,000) in humanitarian aid to support displaced populations in Benue State. 
 
The funding, which will be implemented over a period of six months, in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), aims to address the most urgent humanitarian needs of thousands of people displaced by escalating violence in the state. 
 
According to reports, the recent attacks have resulted in a significant influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state, putting a strain on existing resources.
 
The humanitarian crisis in Benue has been ongoing since 2018, with over 1.5 million people displaced from their homes. The latest wave of violence, which forced almost 23,000 people to flee in June this year, has worsened the situation. 
 
Many of the displaced persons have been forced to live in camps with inadequate access to basic necessities like shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene. 
 
The EU funding is aimed at supporting activities in sectors such as protection, shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene, as well as providing multi-purpose financial aid to alleviate the suffering of victims 
 
The aid is also to provide critical support to IDPs, helping them to meet their basic needs and improve their living conditions.