The Chairman of the Management Committee of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp for indigenes of the military-ravaged Okuama community in Ewu-Urhobo Kingdom of Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, has disclosed that seven babies been successfully delivered by her medical team since the establishment of the camp.
Ogbodo commended the Delta State Government, groups and individuals who have been supporting their activities to keep the camp running since it was set up by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in May.
He, however, appealed to Nigerians and international humanitarian groups including National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to support the camp with relief materials, especially as the rains set in, to enable it cater for hundreds of children, women and men taking shelter at the camp.
Ogbodo, a former Editor of the Guardian Newspapers, spoke on Monday while briefing journalists on recent developments regardin the Okuama-Ewu IDP camp at Ewu town in Delta State.
Flanked by other members of the management committee including its secretary, Chief Austin Emaduku and camp commandant, Mr. Austin Ohwofaria, Ogbodo said the camp has made tremendous progress in bringing succour to the people of Okuama since the ugly incident.
He stated that the committee has been meeting immediate needs including feeding and healthcare needs of the IDPs, stressing that as the rains are intensifying, the camp will be requiring more support from members of the public.
According to him, seven babies have been successfully delivered by medical personnel attached to the camp clinic, adding that both the babies and their mothers are in good health and presently receiving proper care from the camp management.
“Seven babies have so far been safely delivered in the camp. Just yesterday, another one was delivered. We have run this camp going to three months and we have not had any casualty in whatever way. It tells you that our team including the medical team is working.
“We have a standby ambulance for whatever emergency that cannot be contained here. This town also has two other primary and secondary health facilities, and any case beyond them, is taken to Ughelli Central Hospital”, Ogbodo stated.
The committee chairman further expressed assurance that the process for the rebuilding of Okuama community was also receiving serious consideration from the state government.
Speaking further, Ogbodo noted, “This camp was opened in May and we have been running with your corporation and understanding. The Delta State Government has lived up to its own promises of ensuring that the camp is kept alive and running. We have been doing a lot of things to ensure that our Okuama people are well catered for.
“We have good spirited people and groups who have been assisting in addition to what the government has been able to provide. We have received considerable assistance from members of the public and we feel we should use this opportunity to thank everybody that has been part of this journey, and for making it possible for us to survive this phase of the restoration of the Okuama people. The final phase is the rebuilding of the community which is in the pipeline and it’s been followed effectively.
“For the people to live in their houses, they must first and foremost, stay alive. So, doing what we are doing is the business of keeping them alive so that when the time comes for them to posse their ancestral homeland, they will all be alive to do so.
“We are doing our best, but we want to appeal that it’s not yet over. The first phase of keeping them here and feeding them is ongoing. The appeal is to the general public including Urhobo people and the international community to project that humanity and come to be part of this scheme.”
Also speaking, the Secretary of the IDP management committee and Head Personnel Management (HPM), Ughelli South LGA, Olorogun Emaduku, added that the facilities at the camp are sufficient to cater for the number of IDPs.
Olorogun Emaduku assured that the management committee would continue to ensure that whatever that is donated is used for the comfort and wellbeing of Okuama community indigenes at the camp.
