Eze Duruiheoma, the Chairman of the National Population Commission, on Monday decried the living condition of Internally Displaced Persons in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Duruiheoma described it as deplorable.
Duruiheoma made this known while visiting the IDPs at New Kuchingoro as part of the commission’s activities to commemorate the 2015 World Population Day.
He said the visit to the camp was to enable it know what condition of life people live in at the camp.
He said: “The living condition here is deplorable though it can be made better.
“I see determination to survive on the faces of people who live in the camp.
“In people who are assisting them, there is determination to help.
“I think that everything is working well, but the issue of sanitation is something that needs the attention of government.
“Anything that can be provided to them to make their life better will be a worthwhile exercise.”
Duruiheoma explained that the essence of the World Population Day was to draw attention to the plight of these groups of people and provide a collective sustained platform for assisting them.
Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, the Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Board, also said in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria that there are about 1,500 IDPs in Kuchingoro camp.
Mohammed said the board intends to make use of the visit to talk to the IDPs on their health since it is World Population Day.
He said: “We are working with the National Planning Commission and other partners to ensure that life is better in this environment.
“We are providing HIV testing and counselling for mothers and fathers so that they know their status and know how to regulate them.
“Nigeria is two per cent of the world population and contributes 30 per cent of mother to child transmission of HIV.
“We need to talk to the communities about birth registration and population control particularly family planning and child spacing.”
NAN reports that the highlights of the event included free medical outreach by the board, Society for Family Health and other non-governmental organisations.
NAN also reports that Chechefa Alhaji, the Head of Relief and Rehabilitation Department of the FCT Emergency Management Agency, also donated blankets, buckets, kettles and soap and detergents to the IDPs.
A similar outreach was undertaken at the Kuje IDP camp by representatives of the NPC, UNFPA and other partners.
NAN.
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