Redeemed Church donates toilet, borehole to IDP camp

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Lagos Province 4, Apapa Family, in collaboration with the City of David branch of the church, Abuja, has donated a borehole and block of toilets to the New Kuchingoro Internally Displaced Persons camp, Abuja.

The church also laid the foundation for a block of classrooms and also offered free medical services to about 2000 displaced persons in the camp.

Speaking during the exercise, the pastor in charge of the province, Pastor Oghogho Ayanru, said the donation was done in line with the biblical injunction that said ‘Whatever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me.”

He added that providing succor for the displaced persons was also doing services unto God.

He said it was also done to give the displaced persons a sense of belonging in the Nigerian project as the country commemorates its 59th Independence anniversary.

Pastor Ayanru said that while government was making efforts, there was room for it to do more for the less privilege in the country.

Leader of the medical team, Dr Edache John, said there were a lot of public health issues in the camp and that the team observed discolouration of the eyes, cases of malaria and bacterial infections during the outreach. He said this could be as a result of the poor hygienic situation, and state of water the displaced persons take in the camp, among others.

“That is why the donation of this toilet is encouraging. We have also offered them counseling in the area of hygiene , family planning and referred serious cases to nearby hospitals,” he said.

He added that the challenge was that many of the displaced persons could not afford treatment in hospitals. He called on government and well-meaning Nigerians to build a health facility at the camp.

Dr Edache added that the medical outreach was initially planned for 500 people but that over 2000 persons turned up because the camp was in dire need of a health facility.

Chairman, New kuchingoro IDP camp Abuja, Philemon Emmanuel, said the IDPs thought a local toilet would be built for them but were shocked with the “gift of a special toilet for male and female usually seen in housing estates.”

He said the borehole would alleviate their sufferings as they often buy a jerry can of water for N30 from their meager resources and also go to toilet in the bush.

“We are also happy that the church is planning to build a market for us ,” he said.