Sam Kaye
The Borno State council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has donated drugs and consumables worth N 0.5 naira to idps in the Gubio camp in the outskirts of Maiduguri.
Thousands of residents of the Borno state capital were displaced by the recent flood in Maiduguri and had to return to idp camps pending the receding flood waters which had submerged their homes.
The PSN also held health outreaches to Bakassi and Gubio camp giving health talks and prescribing medication for the teeming patients at various camps during the peak of the flood which swallowed almost 200,000 souls.
Chairman of the PSN Umar Abdulkareem told this reporter during a chat that apart from drugs and consumables which were dispensed at the camps, many referrals were made to hospitals and the patients were further assisted to get better.
Speaking recently after a low keyed celebration of their week at one of the camps, he said that their collective efforts in the 2024 program was directed towards the support of all those who have been affected by the massive flood of September 20th which affected the state.
” We are all united to work as a team to support our dear state by standing by to also give Humanitarian support with logistics and health outreaches to support the victims of the devastating flood disaster on our day. Your rewards are in heaven.” He told members during their day in the midst of the flood affected IDPs.
“This year’s World Pharmacist Day 24 is unique to us becaus we all stood firm and gave back to the community at this time of need. We started fundraising donations and we have achieved a lot.
“I want to appreciate every one that donated and those who are intending to donate. We will hand over what was realized to the flood disaster committee coupled with the updated list, and total amount realized.
” Thank u very much my PSN family for supporting all the successes we achieved, which definitely was as a result of all our commitment and dedication to our association and profession at large.” He told a small gathering of pharmacists including some affected by the flood.
Over 150,000 people were reportedly killed by the flood water which overwhelmed many residents at about 1 am of September 10th this year.
Over 30 pharmacists were affected in the state capital including many inside and out of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) which suffered tremendous damage from the flood waters.
The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said that its timely intervention in conjunction with the military with speed boats in many areas of greater Maiduguri helped in saving a lot of lives that were hanging in the balance between life and death.
Meanwhile the Borno health partnership forum mid-wifed by Dr Auta Lawi have been battling day and night to manage the post flood challenges affecting the displaced such as cholera which was declared officially by the Commissioner of Health Prof Baba Mallam Gana in a jam packed news conference at the emergency centre of the world health organization (WHO) at Damboa road.(www.krestnews. com)