Outreach Programme Exposes Ailments In Abuja Village

An Outreach programme jointly organised by International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) recently in Gishiri village, Abuja, has exposed common ailments suffered by women in that community.

Gishiri village which is located a stone throw away from high brow Maitama District in Abuja is mainly inhabited by low income earners, who live in substandard houses.

The outreach programme which is part of activities to mark FIDA week also coincides with the 16 days activism on Violence Against Women which is being observed globally.

Speaking on the outing, a member of MWAN, Dr. Clair Esenwah said the over 300 women tested suffered bacteria conjunctivitis, trauma, cataract and skin diseases, while the children had eczema.

She said that the sanitary situation of the community was poor and that it made the transmission of diseases very easy, just as the absence of a primary health care centre worsened the plight of the people in terms of accessing health services.

As part of the enlightenment package, she said that women and children who attended the outreach programme were taught how to maintain a high level of personal hygiene and the importance of washing the hands.

Esenwah called on the government to come to the aid of the community, saying that it was demoralising that a community living close to Maitame district had been neglected.

Also speaking, the President of MWAN, Dr. Nma Nwokocha said that the outreach which was a collaborative effort of two women groups is a contribution to the efforts of the federal government to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

She said that the collaboration was made possible by “the good works of Ipas” an international NGO that promotes the reproductive health and rights of women that taught the women groups the importance of strategic alliance.

She said that issues of maternal and infant mortality could be better addressed by such alliance and therefore advised the federal government to sponsor women groups to carry out similar outreach programmes in rural areas.

Nwokocha said that the women of Girishi were educated on their basic right as citizens of Nigeria, as well as when and where they could seek health services.

She said that tests conducted also showed that some of the women are hypertensive and diabetic.