The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with support of the Government of Japan, has donated Inter-Agency Reproductive Health (IARH) kits and other humanitarian supplies to the Government of Benue State to enhance maternal and newborn healthcare, sexual and reproductive health services and gender-based violence response across the State.
The intervention, to be implemented through the Royal Heritage Health Foundation, is expected to benefit over 100,000 vulnerable persons, especially Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), women and girls affected by the humanitarian crisis in Benue.
The reproductive health kits were “truly life-saving,” according to Muriel Mafico, UNFPA Resident Representative in Nigeria, who said the intervention meant more than the donation of medical supplies during the official handover ceremony at the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BENSEMA) headquarters in Makurdi.
“The kits that we are handing over today will impact over 100,000 persons in Benue State. But we are investing more in people than in supplies. Supplies alone will not save lives, unless health workers are properly trained,” she said.
Mafico said UNFPA would work with the Benue State College of Nursing Sciences to build the capacity of nurses, midwives and doctors, and support the creation of safe spaces and youth-friendly centres in IDP camps to improve the response to gender-based violence.
She also disclosed that the agency will also invest in digital literacy and digital marketing skills for youth and women as part of efforts to promote economic empowerment and to ensure no one is left behind.
“Today we’ve seen that our support in Benue is making a difference. It is inspiring hope and changing lives one person at a time. “There is a lot to celebrate, but we have to do a lot more, at a faster pace, on a larger scale and in a sustainable manner,” Mafico said.
She emphasized that peace and development remain inseparable, and UNFPA will continue to support women-led and youth-led organizations to advance peacebuilding, social cohesion, and government-led coordination on gender-based violence response.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Governor, Hyacinth Alia, the Deputy Governor, Sam Ode, thanked UNFPA and the Government of Japan for the intervention, saying that the donation was timely and critical to improving maternal and newborn healthcare services in the state.
“We are very thankful to UNFPA and the Government of Japan for this donation of Inter-Agency Reproductive Health Kits,” said Dr. Mukhida.
“This intervention will promote maternal and newborn health, sexual and reproductive health and gender based violence response services in Benue,” he said.
He assured the donors that the state government would ensure the transparent distribution of the supply.
Yesterday we assured you that all these donations will be put to full use. We will monitor them closely to ensure they reach the people who need them. We value the partnership, and will work to maintain it for the benefit of our people,” he added.
Governor Alia also reiterated the commitment of his administration to strengthen collaborations that will enhance healthcare delivery and support vulnerable communities across the state.
He thanked UNFPA and the Government of Japan for their continued support to efforts to address challenges to maternal health, gender-based violence and the humanitarian needs of internally displaced persons.
The governor also welcomed the Japan-funded initiative on digital literacy, economic empowerment, reproductive health services and prevention of gender-based violence, saying it was in line with the vision of sustainable and people-centred development of his administration.
