At an IDP camp in Makurdi, Benue State, a crowd of children—some barefoot, others clinging to their mothers—waited in line for a single jab that can save their lives.
The Benue State government’s recent vaccination programme is a lifesaver for the Yelewata IDPs displaced from homes through violent encounters.
Why vaccination matters
Data by WHO show that preventable diseases like measles, rubella and polio can spread rapidly in camps where overcrowding, poor sanitation and limited medical access persist. More often than not, children are the most vulnerable.
Without timely intervention, a single measles outbreak could devastate a camp population already battling conflict and malnutrition—an outcome that the Benue State government is working to prevent.
In response, the state government has begun a vaccine campaign that targets children across all 23 local government areas.
The outreach, which began in October, not only provides vaccination against a range of diseases—such as polio and human papillomavirus, or HPV—but also treatments for neglected tropical diseases.
Over 300 children have since been vaccinated at one IDP camp in Yelewata.
Along with 1,110 volunteers stationed at the health posts, the campaign includes an additional 1,274 “sweep teams” tasked with house-to-house visits to ensure that every child in the state is covered.
Benue’s recent initiative aligns with country-wide efforts to strengthen disease surveillance and restore faith in the public healthcare system. Notably, Benue’s action broadens access to those at the margins.
Official data reports that over 2.7 million doses of MR vaccines—including 2.3 million oral polio vaccines—have been disbursed during the campaign. This stash is expected to run for 10 days with two additional mop-up days to reach missed children.
Health at the margins
The success of Benue’s campaign sends a powerful message—that public health is a right that covers even those at the margins of society.
And in Yelewata, a community shadowed by tragedy and fear, the willingness of mothers to present their wards for vaccination signals promise.
For many displaced families in Yelewata, health security might be the first step to recovery from loss and instability.
Summary not available at this time.
