UNICEF boosts Lassa fever response in Benue with WASH, dignity kits for displaced families

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Concerned by the surge in Lassa fever cases in Benue State, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has intensified its emergency response by distributing 900 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and dignity kits to displaced households across nine IDP camps, targeting high-risk, densely populated settings to curb transmission.

The distribution was kick-started at the International Market IDP camp housing displaced families from Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of the state.
The Chief Field Office, UNICEF, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, while handing out the kits explained that to reinforce infection prevention and control, contactless handwashing stations are being installed throughout the camps, enabling safe hygiene practices while minimizing cross-contamination—an essential step in containing viral outbreaks.
She said the kits, which include safe water storage containers and essential hygiene items, will equip vulnerable households with the means to maintain sanitation and reduce exposure to rodent-borne infection.
Working in close partnership with state health authorities, Chiluwe said UNICEF is combining supply distribution with community engagement and risk communication efforts to mitigate the outbreak and safeguard affected populations, particularly children.
She stated that: “In the face of the current Lassa fever outbreak, hygiene is our first line of defense. These kits and the new contactless handwashing stations do more than provide comfort; they are lifesaving tools.
“By ensuring households can store water safely and wash their hands without the risk of surface contact, we are significantly reducing the risk of viral transmission and protecting children from a preventable tragedy.”
The Acting General Manager, Benue Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BERWASSA), Mr. Tony Nkpen, stated that following the Lassa fever outbreak in the state, BERWASSA made a request to UNICEF, adding, “Through their support, we were able to get over 3,500 WASH and dignity kits to support IDPs and vulnerable persons within the state.”
Nkpen, who was represented by the WASH in Emergency Technical Working Group Rest Officer, BERWASSA, Mathew Nyamve, said they were on ground to ensure the kits reach vulnerable persons to cushion their plight during the outbreak.
He said, “We want to thank our partner, UNICEF, for supporting us each time we make a request. We will continue to ensure judicious use by making sure the items get to the beneficiaries.”
Some of the beneficiaries, Eunice Nyinongo, Ayila Mbasalam, Victoria Agber, Utair Torgenger, and the camp woman leader, Mrs. Ruth Ajinde, appreciated UNICEF for the intervention, stating that it is of great benefit to them.
Nyinongo, in particular, expressed relief, noting that she would no longer need to spend money on hygiene items but could instead use it to purchase food items like maggi, salt, and others. She also prayed for God to replenish UNICEF so it can continue helping others.