IOM, Japan To Support IDPs, Returnees, Host Communities In Northeast

By Bukar BOLORI

The Government of Japan and the United Nations International Organisation for Migration (IOM) have signed a joint agreement to support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees and vulnerable host communities in the Northeast.

The Ambassador of Japan, Kazuyoshi Matsunaga, said during the signing ceremony of the agreement in Abuja that the the aim if the assignment is to support measures designed to tackle urgent needs of vulnerable people in Adamawa, with an eye of extending it to other affected states.

The envoy said the agreement focused on: “Strengthening basic healthcare services for IDPs, returnees and host communities in Nigeria” between Japanese government, Adamawa government, IOM and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

According to him, the project which is worthy US$4.4 million will run from March, 2024 to March, 2026 with measures to ensure sustainability, monitoring and evaluation, calculation of post-project cost, training of personnel in the operation, maintenance, and upkeep of equipment.

Kazuyoshi said: “it is towards combining fixed facilities with innovation technology solutions, such as medical mobility, as service and telemedicine is essential to effectively serving the mobile IDP population.

“Effective technology transfer from Japan to Nigeria requires strong focus on human resource development, therefore investment on capacity building to enable local staff fully utilize and maintain medical equipments.

“So, the ultimate measure of success of this project should not be measured by the construction of beautiful primary healthcare centre or improved access to healthcare service with advanced technology.

“It should be measured by the healthy and safe life of citizens who benefit from this improved healthcare services beyond the duration of the project.”

He explained that the project will bring about introduction of innovation technology, medical masks and telemedicine, and involvement of Japanese companies as model for improving healthcare service across Nigeria.

Chairman of Adamawa Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Sulaiman Bashir, who signed the agreement on behalf of Adamawa State Government, said the agreement would not have been possible without the partnership between IOM and the Japanese government.

He said: “Our state, as mentioned earlier, had enormous humanitarian and development needs. A state of 5.5 million people, 60 per cent are less than 30 years of age.

“These are areas that are of great concern to us. In terms of the humanitarian crisis, we have the three different crises that we are battling within our state.

“Initially, we have the Boko Haram terrorist activity in the northern part of the state, we have the farmer-herder clashes, we also have the last one, the inter-communal conflict there.

”On his part, the IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission, Laurent De Boeck, promised to partner States and Local Government actors to rebuild, rehabilitate, and equip nine health facilities in eight Local Government Areas in Adamawa.

He said such will be achieved through training staff from each unit of the nine Primary Healthcare Centres, which include doctors, nurses, midwives, community health workers, information/data officers, laboratory technicians.

He added that: “This project aligns with the long-term development priorities of both the Nigerian Government and the Adamawa authorities.

“It is a testament to our commitment to not only provide immediate relief, but also to contribute to sustainable solutions that addresses root causes of displacement and insecurity,” he said.

He reiterated the organisation planned to ensure healthcare is not a privilege, but fundamental right accessible to all, to pave way for healthier, more stable and prosperous future for the people of northeast Nigeria.

Chief Representative of JICA, Mr Yuzurio Susumu, said the grant provided from the agreement will further advance construction of primary healthcare centres, and boost capacity building among other things.

Yuzurio said, “Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the creation of an inclusive environment that fosters peaceful coexistence.

“By ensuring access to quality healthcare services, we aim to encourage the return and resettlement of IDPs, laying groundwork for sustainable peace and prosperity in Adamawa.”