The Smile Mission Medical Health Care, a professional team of 160 North-East indigenous doctors, working with other volunteer health care providers, has commenced the administration of preventive and curative treatment and sensitisation for the 30,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) population in Bama Camp in Borno State. This was the second successful Smile Mission intervention in Bama Camp augmenting the health care interventions by other agencies and institutions servicing the camp.

The Smile Mission Medical Care Team provided treatment for common illnesses and specialised care such as ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) assessment and referrals, basic dental care, obstetrics and gynecology complications. Other services rendered included psychosocial trauma counseling, sensitisation on sanitation and hygiene in the camp.

The project is planned to be scaled up and linked with the timelines of other camp health providers as well as replicated in other parts of the North-East.

The Presidential Committee on North-East Initiatives (PCNI) under the leadership of elder statesman, Lt. General T.Y Danjuma (Rtd.), was represented at the event held to mark the World Humanitarian Day in Bama on Friday, August 18, 2016. Alhaji, Tijjani Tumsa, Vice Chairman PCNI, explained the role and mandate of the PCNI as a coordinating intervention that will ensure coherent support to assist conflict affected people; engender peace building and recovery in the North-East region of Nigeria.

Other strategic engagement sessions by the PCNI Vice Chair included those with the Executive Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, the Emir and Elders of the Bama Community, the Theatre Commander, Colonel Luka and heads of response agencies operating in the Bama IDP Camp. The consistent message was clarification on the coordinating role of the PCNI, its responsibility to identify and close gaps to ensure synergy and efficiency for urgent comprehensive support to the recovery of all North-East communities.

In his engagement with the media, Alhaji Tumsa explained the plans to establish PCNI field offices starting with Maiduguri to enhance impact, efficiency, monitoring while providing a rallying point for all intervening agencies. (PRNigeria)

•File Photo shows IDPs receiving relief materials.