Army Day Celebration: NAOWA Sensitises FCT IDPs On Family Planning

To mark the 2022 Nigerian Army Day, the Nigerian Army Officer Wives Association (NAOWA), Army Headquarters (AHQ) Garrison Chapter has advised women in the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Durumi, FCT, to embrace family planning in order to ameliorate their sufferings.

Speaking during a visit to the camp Monday, the NAOWA AHQ Garrison Coordinator, Mrs Asma’u Garba, said that the Association is saddened by the plight of the IDPs, hence the decision to visit with different relief materials.

She said: “NAOWA is built on the principles and norms of the Nigerian Army and our motto is ‘Unity and Charity’. On this occasion of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2022, we strive to exemplify this by reaching out to the less privileged, within and outside our environs. Durumi IDPs Camp has been chosen as the reach out location for the less privileged to commemorate the Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2022.

“However, it is depressing to see people living in this kind of environment. I just pray that conditions of IDPs are improved all over Nigeria. It is touching. I will advise the IDPs not to lose hope. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, so we will continue to pray for them. This gesture will be as frequent as we have the relief materials. We will be visiting other IDPs camps too. These gifts are from our hearts. Nothing is too much for the IDPs.”

Also speaking, wife of the military Secretary, Mrs Maryam Abdussalam, said that the NAOWA AHQ Garrison is making plans to ensure that the sufferings of the IDPs are ameliorated, lamenting that the IDPs give birth to more children than they can cater for.

“I am a mother. I am heartbroken seeing the condition of living of the IDPs in this camp. It is depressing and disheartening. I won’t wish this on anyone. I can assure you that we will do something to make sure that we improve their conditions of living. We will provide more interventions for them.

“I will advise the women to pay close attention to family planning. It is discouraging to know that, despite the poor living conditions here, the women are still giving birth to plenty children. This is adding to their suffering. They should visit health clinics for family planning in order to give birth to fewer children. It is not fair to bring children into the world to suffer,” she said.