Benue Deputy Governor Assures Transparent Distribution of UNFPA Reproductive Health Kits to IDPs
By our Repoter In Makurdi
The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Sam Odeh, has assured the United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), that reproductive health kits donated for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state will be distributed transparently and reach the intended beneficiaries.
Odeh gave the assurance on Tuesday during the official presentation of the reproductive health kits in Makurdi. He stated that the Benue State Government would establish a robust monitoring mechanism to oversee the distribution process and guarantee accountability.
“We will ensure that these items are properly utilised and delivered to the actual beneficiaries for whom they are intended,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the UNFPA Representative in Nigeria, Muriel Mafico, commended the strong partnership between the organisation and the Benue State Government, noting that significant progress had been recorded through their collaborative efforts.
She acknowledged the achievements made so far but stressed that more work remained to address the reproductive health needs of vulnerable populations across the state.
Mafico explained that the intervention, funded by the Government of Japan, was making a meaningful impact on the lives of displaced persons and helping to restore hope in affected communities.
According to her, the reproductive health kits are expected to benefit more than 100,000 people across Benue State. She added that UNFPA’s support goes beyond the donation of materials to include capacity building for nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals in partnership with the state’s College of Health Sciences.
She further disclosed that the collaboration also focuses on digital literacy, community engagement, peacebuilding and the promotion of social cohesion as part of efforts to foster sustainable peace.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Paul Ejeh, pledged that the donated items would be distributed fairly and utilised strictly for their intended purpose.
“We are committed to ensuring that these materials are deployed effectively and reach those who need them most,” he stated.
Representing the beneficiaries, an IDP, Barnabas Bem, expressed gratitude to UNFPA for the intervention, noting that the support would enable many women and girls in displacement camps to access essential reproductive health services and supplies that had previously been difficult to obtain.
He said the donation would significantly improve the health and wellbeing of displaced families, particularly women and adolescent girls, across the state.
