Measles outbreak hits Agagbe IDPs Camp in Benue

A measles outbreak has been reported at the Agagbe Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp situated in the Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, affecting a significant number of children residing within the camp.

The camp’s manager, Terna Jacob, conveyed this distressing news to DAILY POST in Makurdi on Wednesday, providing a comprehensive update on the unfolding situation at the camp.

Jacob revealed that the outbreak came to light following media coverage, prompting a visit from two individuals, including a health official from the local government secretariat in Naka, who arrived at the camp on Tuesday to assess the gravity of the situation.

As the situation continued to develop, Jacob disclosed that an additional four children had been diagnosed with measles within the camp. These children were currently undergoing treatment, using locally sourced herbal remedies.

He shared the account of a distressing incident, recounting, “Yesterday (Tuesday) at about 5.35 PM, a man came to the IDP camp at Agagbe to gather updates on the health challenges within. He interviewed a woman who had recently given birth to a stillborn child and inquired about the circumstances. She informed him that the birth occurred within the camp’s toilet.”

The man requested to be taken to the scene, where he documented the situation visually. He also engaged with volunteers from Medecins Sans Frontieres to gather additional information.

In a separate visit, another health official from the local government secretariat in Naka arrived, stating that he had been directed by the state ministry of health to assess the conditions prevailing at the camp. This official documented the situation, capturing images that revealed a distressing reality.

Terna Jacob, the camp manager, had previously alerted the public on Monday about the dire conditions experienced by the camp’s inhabitants. He reported that six children were already afflicted by measles, and due to inadequate healthcare facilities, parents were resorting to traditional herbal treatments.

Jacob also raised concerns about the predicament of pregnant women at the camp, who were using the camp’s toilets as makeshift delivery rooms. Tragically, within a span of two days, two newborns lost their lives during childbirth.