The Association of Lady Pharmacists carried out a sensitisation campaign at the camps of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja, so as to encourage healthy living practices amongst them.
The sensitisation started at one of the IDP camps situated at Pegi community in Kuje Area Council of Abuja.
This initiative was to help instil in residents of the camp, healthy environmental practices with regards to cleanliness during the rainy season which always come with its health and environmental challenges.
Chairperson of the association, Mrs. Salamatu Orakwelu, stated in her remarks at the campaign that the threat of common illnesses that people in such camps face were real but could be overcome with proactive environmental practices.
"Even while in the camp, they reproduce and some of the younger ones amongst them are without parents and we appeal to the federal government to ensure that they are adequately protected security wise. We have been going to various schools on drugs campaign and in trying to educate not just the younger ones but the general public on the need for living a healthy life style.
"These people are from Chibok community in Maiduguri, we are here to educate them on how to keep their environment clean and also to stay safe by ensuring that they sleep on the long lasting mosquito treated nets. "As health professionals, we educate them on the need to keep their environment clean as cleanliness is next to godliness. We provided them with anti-malaria drugs like the Odomox mosquito repellant, multivitamin, pain relief and Hematenic pregnancy remedy drug," added Orakwelu.
She further explained that: "What is the hope for a child born at the IDPs' camp? Such an environment is not conducive enough to raise a child. There should be need to ensure adequate protection and provision of medical services rendered to them. And, due to the state of the road which leads to the camp, many were not able to meet with us at their zonal headquarters at 1000, unit 30 in Kuje Abuja and there are calls on government to ensure that the road is put in order for subsequent visit by others who would want to donate items to the community.
"Like I said, they came to meet us at a particular place as the road to the camp is not good or motorable. They came in large number about 200 persons, men and women. It rained heavily and because of the muddy environment, the kids couldn't come out. "As the raining season approaches, we educate them to ensure that they properly shut their doors, when it's raining, take their anti-malaria drugs and more importantly keep their surroundings safe by clearing the grasses to avoid snakes, scorpions and other dangerous reptiles," she stated.
LN
No comments:
Post a Comment