The Benue State Government has disclosed that its State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) allocated over N160 million to treat snakebite victims among internally displaced persons (IDPs) from March through September. James Iorpuu, the agency’s Executive Secretary, revealed this expenditure to journalists on Friday while addressing ongoing complaints regarding the welfare of displaced families. According to Premium Times, SEMA coordinated care at the Benue University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi, a move necessitated by what the agency described as inadequate support from humanitarian partners.
This financial disclosure arrives as Premium Times published an investigation documenting significant healthcare gaps within the camps. The report, titled “Shut clinic deepens healthcare crisis in Benue IDP camp,” found that the health facility at the Anyiin IDP camp in Logo Local Government Area ceased operations once external aid funding lapsed. Helen Tsavwua, a former worker at the site, noted that Médecins Sans Frontières established the clinic in 2018, and the Victim Support Fund took over before withdrawing in January 2021. The closure left residents, particularly pregnant women and children, vulnerable to medicine shortages and delayed treatment.
The investigation also highlighted the financial barriers faced by displaced mothers. Naomi Teryen, a 32-year-old pregnant woman, reported paying approximately N3,000 for antenatal visits at a government-owned health centre, sometimes being turned away when she had only N1,000. Terrence Akighir, a UNICEF consultant, argued that multiple micronutrient supplements should be free of charge. Meanwhile, the agency’s account contrasts with statements from leaders of the Agagbe, Daudu, and Mega camps, who characterized food aid as inconsistent and shelter support as insufficient. One leader noted that the last food distribution occurred about four months prior and was insufficient for the population.
In response to these criticisms, Mr. Iorpuu acknowledged that food quantities had reduced significantly but maintained that monthly distributions continued. He stated that SEMA was collaborating with the UNHCR on resettlement interventions. The International Organisation for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix recorded 464,543 IDPs in Benue, with approximately 88,000 living in camps. Despite the N160 million spending figure, the statement did not provide a detailed breakdown of the number of patients treated or the average cost per case.