NGO Assists Borno’s 10,000 IDPs, PWDs

A non- governmental organisation (NGO), Women in New Nigeria and Youth Empowerment Initiative (WINN) in collaboration with CBM International has provided access to health facility to 10,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), persons living with disabilities (PWDs) and other vulnerable persons with psychological impairment in Borno State.

The project coordinator of WINN, Mr Ansa Ita disclosed this yesterday during the commemoration of the World Drug Abuse Day with the theme: ” The Evidence is clear: Invest in Prevention ” held at the Women Development Centre in Maiduguri.

Ita who said the project is being funded by German Federation Foreign Office through CBM added that WINN have been working to provide support to youths to reject drugs and other related vices.

He said about 537 persons with disabilities have been supported with medical and technical devices, adding that 600 sexual and gender-based victims (SGBV) survivors have been supported with dignity Kits, in addition to 20 health facilities that have been supported to be more accessible and equipped with medical and hospital equipment.

“Eight women and girls safe spaces (WGSS) two each constructed in four LGAs and 640 trainees received skill building training in tailoring, beads making, liquid soap making. 559 of them were empowered with start-up Kits. Another 81 trainees in tailoring would be graduating in the week of July, ” he said.

Mr Ita added that 100 health workers were trained and retrained in their various skills to strengthen their capacities for improved service delivery, saying that a well-equipped office has been provided to the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities for the coordination of activities of persons with disabilities.

In his lecture titled, “Dealing with causes and impacts of drug abuse on the individual, family and the society, ” Dr Mustapha Ibrahim Mustapha of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, said effects of drug abuse include kidney impairment, liver impairment, lung diseases, skin problems depression, psychosis among others.

Bukar Modu of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in his paper presentation noted that the menace of drug abuse is evidently seen in the UNODC Global prevalence of drug use which stands at 5.6 percent, adding that in Nigeria, it is 14.4 percent equivalent to about 14.3 million Nigerian people with drug use disorder.

Earlier, the mental health and psychosocial support project officer WINN, Mr Precious John, said 26th June every year is set aside to celebrate and commemorate international day for drug abuse and illicit trafficking all over the world.

He said WINN has gathered over 300 young men, women, IDPs and PWDs from across the state to raise awareness on dangers of drug abuse.