UNFPA Donates Life-Saving Kits to Benue, Nigeria

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), backed by the Government of Japan, has provided essential reproductive health kits and humanitarian supplies to Nigeria's Benue State. The donation targets over 100,000 vulnerable individuals, particularly internally displaced persons, women, and girls affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The intervention, channeled through the Royal Heritage Health Foundation, aims to bolster maternal and newborn healthcare, sexual and reproductive health services, and the response to gender-based violence. UNFPA Resident Representative in Nigeria, Muriel Mafico, emphasized that the donated kits are "truly life-saving" and represent a broader investment in people, not just medical supplies. "Supplies alone will not save lives unless health workers are properly trained," she stated.

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The kits we are handing over today will benefit over 100,000 people across Benue State. But beyond the supplies, we are investing in people because supplies alone will not save lives unless health workers are properly trained.

Beyond the immediate aid, UNFPA plans to collaborate with the Benue State College of Nursing Sciences to enhance the skills of nurses, midwives, and doctors. The agency will also support the creation of safe spaces and youth-friendly centers within internally displaced persons camps to improve gender-based violence response. Furthermore, UNFPA will invest in digital literacy and marketing skills for young people and women to foster economic empowerment.

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We have seen today that our support in Benue is making a difference. It is igniting hope and transforming lives one person at a time. But while there is much to celebrate, we must do much more, at greater speed, on a larger scale and in a sustainable manner.

Mafico highlighted the positive impact of UNFPA's support in Benue, noting it "ignites hope and transforming lives one person at a time." However, she stressed the need for greater, faster, and more sustainable efforts. "While there is much to celebrate, we must do much more, at greater speed, on a larger scale and in a sustainable manner," she urged. She also underscored the link between peace and development, pledging continued support for women-led and youth-led organizations promoting peacebuilding and social cohesion.

Deputy Governor Sam Ode, receiving the donation on behalf of Governor Hyacinth Alia, expressed gratitude to UNFPA and Japan, calling the intervention "timely and critical." He assured donors of transparent distribution of the supplies, reinforcing the state government's commitment to improving healthcare services.

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We sincerely thank UNFPA and the Government of Japan for this donation of Inter-Agency Reproductive Health Kits. This intervention will strengthen maternal and newborn health as well as sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence response services in Benue.