A total of 49 babies have been delivered in just one month at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp located at the International Market in Makurdi, Benue State. The camp currently shelters victims of recent attacks, including those displaced from Yelwata.
Executive Secretary of the Benue State Primary HealthCare Board (BSPHCB), Mrs. Grace Ashi Wende, revealed this during an Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) visit to the camp clinic.
Wende also disclosed that 380 pregnant women currently living in the camp are expected to give birth soon, while 490 women received antenatal care during the same period.
The health facility at the camp has been active with over 5,500 consultations between June 16 and July 14, 2025. These include 2,980 adults (339 male and 2,641 female), 496 adolescents aged 10 to 19, and 2,030 children under nine years old.
She noted that 27 women gave birth at the camp clinic, while 66 were referred to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) for more advanced care. As of July 28, reports from BSUTH showed 44 patients admitted, with none yet discharged.
Wende praised the contributions of the Benue State Ministry of Health, UNICEF, Save the Children, and other partners for their support. Their assistance led to the installation of a borehole, a hybrid submersible pump, and the provision of hygiene materials to boost the camp’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) standards.
The Makurdi IDP camp currently houses 2,336 households and 5,294 individuals, including 2,536 children.
Wende commended the dedication of the health workers and called for sustained support to meet the growing health needs of displaced persons in the state.