Benue IDP Camp Records Case Of Chicken Pox

• Chicken pox case reported in Benue State’s Agagbe IDP camp, confirmed by doctors from a nearby private hospital
• Officials from State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) visit camp to investigate reported illnesses, hunger; support received for treatment

A case of chicken pox has been reported at the Agagbe Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Benue State’s Gwer West Local Government Area.

The chairman of the Agagbe IDP camp in Gwer West LGA, Ibaah Terna Jacob, told newsmen on Sunday that a case of chickenpox was discovered by some medical doctors from a nearby private hospital.

He claimed that the doctors broke the news to some government officials who came to the camp over the weekend.

The government officials, who were said to be from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), had come to see if the cases of measles, other illnesses, and hunger reported in the media were true.

Today (weekend) SEMA was here to confirm the widespread news in IDP camp, Agagbe concerning sickness and hunger. They interviewed Mrs Ioryoosu Udisugh, who gave birth in the toilet and she told them the same story.

They went to the European Economic Community (EEC) Hospital, Agagbe where the doctors confirmed the situation to be true (measles). Those doctors also reported chicken pox to them, Jacob said.

Meanwhile, the camp manager revealed that Reverend Father Bua Cletus, Vicar in Charge of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Agagbe, informed him that two people sent N70,000 into his account to help with pressing sickness issues at the Agagbe IDP camp.

Jacob stated that funds sent to the cleric’s account by well-meaning individuals enabled some suffering from measles and other ailments to begin treatment.

“So far, we’ve been able to take them to St Francis Xavier Primary Health Care in Agagbe.” “If the money is still available, we will accept more sick people,” the camp manager speculated.

Charity Agber, the SEMA’s Information Officer, did not respond to calls and messages left on her phone seeking comment.