Women in Muna, the largest Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri, have expressed gratitude to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) for providing mini ambulances to facilitate prompt access to maternal health.

The women, who expressed their feelings in separate interviews with journalists in Maiduguri on Sunday, said the effective role of the medicalised ambulances provided succour to many of them during emergencies.

The mini ambulances that have been active in some camps and communities across the state since 2020 were provided by the fund in collaboration with its partners to support access to maternal health and strengthen referral mechanisms for gender-based violence (GBV) services, particularly in hard-to-reach locations.

A cross-section of the women, who spoke to journalists, said that the ambulances have continued to live up to expectations.

They commended all those involved in the initiative, including the ambulance drivers.

One of the women, Yagana Abubakar, said the ambulance never disappointed the IDPs during emergencies involving maternal health and GBV cases.

She said, “I had to call the service of the ambulance to take me to the integrated maternal health centre of UNFPA to deliver this baby I am now carrying.

“The operators of the ambulances are always at our service whenever we call them to help.”

Another displaced woman, Fatima Mohammed, narrated how two of her children were evacuated for treatment during the cholera outbreak at the camp last year, pointing out that many infected IDPs were saved by God through timely interventions by the ambulances that worked 24/7 during the emergency.

Amina Garba, an IDP, also recalled the roles played by the ambulance during other emergencies, like the fire outbreak that used to be rampant at the camp.

She said, “On many occasions during fire outbreaks in the camp, the ambulances were handy to evacuate victims, particularly the elderly and children, to safety.

“The mini ambulances will continue to remain one of the many good things the UNFPA brought to this camp that will continue to impact the lives of IDPs.”

Risikatu Musa, a midwife in the camp, said the ambulances were also being used to convey referral patients from the camp health facility to secondary facilities like the Maiduguri Specialist Hospital.

Yakubu Mshelia, one of the ambulance drivers, says he transports between two and five patients to secondary health facilities daily.

He said, “I started working here two years ago, and it has been a good and smooth relationship between us (the drivers) and the IDPs and the officials; they really cherish our services and they respect us.”

Magaji Abdusalam, a GBV/SRH Frontline Coordinator with UNFPA, reported that the ambulances were active not only at the Muna Camp but also at the Custom House Camp, the Fatima Ali Sheriff Hospital, the Umaru Shehu Hospital, and Dalaram Hospital. 

(NAN)