*Ms. Chansa Kapaya, Country Representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, discloses the Commission has also distributed 200 vaccine carrier boxes and fully-equipped ambulance and a security pick-up van to ensure security for locals and refugees accommodated in Ogoja, Cross River State of Nigeria

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As part of the organisation’s humanitarian efforts, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has handed over two constructed and fully equipped health centres to Cross River State Government.

The health facilities are meant for use of the refugees and host communities in Ogoja Local Government Area of the South-South state, agency report said.

Ms. Chansa Kapaya, UNHCR Country Representative, who inaugurated the health centres in Ogoja, commended the Federal Government of Nigeria, and Cross River in particular for hosting the Cameroonian refugees.

It was gathered that the new health centres are located in Adagom and Ukende communities in Cross River State.

Kapaya also said that the  85,000 refugees in Nigeria were the official registered refugees by UNHCR and National Commission for Refugees.

The UNHCR Country Representative at the event disclosed that Cross River State alone hosts over 50,000 refugees in the country.

She said that recently, UNHCR distributed 200 vaccine carrier boxes and fully equipped ambulance and a security pick-up van to ensure security for locals and refugees in Ogoja.

Kapaya further urged the Cross River Government to increase the number of health workers in the facilities so that healthcare services would reach the vulnerable population.

Speaking at the handing over of the health centres, Mr. Tesfaye Beleke, Head of Ogoja Field Office of UNHCR, said that apart from the health facilities, the UN body had renovated several schools and constructed across the state.

Mr. Princewill Ayim, Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, reiterated government’s commitment to providing the needed support to enhance effective intervention in the communities.

In his remarks, Mr. Innocent Efoghe, Zonal Coordinator, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, also thanked UNHCR for providing and equipping the health centres.

Dr. Janet Ekpenyong, Director-General of Cross River Primary Healthcare Agency, who received the health facilities, appreciated UNHCR for the interventions to better the lives of the Cameroonian refugees and host communities in Cross River State.

Ekpenyong announced that more health workers would be sent to the facilities to enhance maximum health service delivery to consumers.

Mr. Emmanuel Ishabor, Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, as well thanked UNHCR for its m support to the refugees, and for constructing the health facilities in the state.