IDPs sensitized on hand washing, malaria

A non-governmental organization, Africare Nigeria, has sensitized internally displaced persons at the camp in Durumi, Abuja on the importance of hand washing and malaria prevention.

The organisation carried out the sensitization programme in collaboration with Exxonmobil under the Power Forward project as part of its activities to commemorate this year’s hand washing day.

The Africare team which comprised of students of Government Secondary School ,Zone 3 carried out sanitation exercise in the camp and made practical demonstrations of how to properly wash the hands, use insecticide treated mosquitoe nets and prepare nutritious meals .

Nutritional supplements and commodities were also distributed to the IDPs.

Country Director for Africare Dr. Orode Doherty, called on government and other stakeholders to provide a bore hole, running water and flushable toilets for the camp.

“We know that there is no running water in the camp, at some level they are practising open defecation and these are some of the things we are trying to reduce by coming here to sensitize them on the importance of safe and clean environment, their nutrition and their health as well as the wellbeing of their children,” she said

She said they carried out the exercise giving the importance of hand washing in preventing diseases particularly diarrhea, one of the killer diseases of children, adding that they also came along with students from Government Secondary School ,Zone 3 which won the organisation’s recent malaria quiz competition to ensure that the students are engaging in community service and taking active leadership roles especially in the area of health.

Chairman of the IDP camp Ibrahim Ahmadu , thanked the group for the gesture and called on government to come to the aid of the IDPS by empowering them economically and enrolling their children for all levels of education.