OBJECTIVES OF THE PARTNERSHIP
1. To help the Elem Tombia displaced persons meet their basic and urgent needs due to their precarious plight vis-à-vis provision of insecticide treated nets, insecticides, malaria drugs, etc;
2. To make them understand that Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and RAHI Medical Outreach (RAHI) care for them inspite of their situation;
3. To help extend NDDC milk of human kindness to displaced persons in Elem Tombia community;
4. To promote health education amongst the returnees and other persons in order to prevent an epidemic out-break of diseases of public health importance like HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases; and
5. Finally, to showcase the good work NDDC is doing in order to ameliorate the plight of the Niger Deltans.
The Community -ELEM TOMBIA
Elem Tombia must have been a very beautiful place; its fauna and flora diversity is unsurpassed as one observes that it might once have been the evolutionary epicenter of marine activity in the Niger Delta. According to the indigenes, Elem Tombia did not just happen; it was built by a conscious and deliberate decision. It follows the pattern which was a cultural acquisition. The surrounding creeks had been a hub of fishing, as the indigenes are predominantly fishermen. Commercial fishing had boomed for years until the piece of the land was alleged to have ben punctuated by the attack in September, 2007 by the Joint Task Force (JTF). The Community was completely devastated with the people displaced.
In November, 2008, a RAHI Medical Outreach pre-assessment team visited the community to have an on the spot assessment of the situation and to mobilize the people towards the forthcoming Emergency Relief Mission. The essence of this was to determine the extent of the destruction and the urgent needs of the people as regards their health and social challenges.
On the 2nd of December, 2008, after all modalities had been worked out between the RAHI Medical Outreach team and NDDC officials; the RAHI team departed for Elem Tombia from Iwofe Waterside. Typical of a journey in the creeks of the Niger Delta, it was an arduous task. The team arrived the community with a rousing welcome from the Amadabo of Elem Tombia, H.R.H. Tunbotamuna Sa’agbe Atrinson and his Council of Chiefs. After the welcome formalities, the RAHI team (made up of 60 volunteers) was immediately shared into various committees and settle down to work there and then. The following committees were set up: Mobilization, Household/Enumeration, Need Assessment/Allocation and Public Health Enlightenment/Peace building committees with terms of reference given to them.
The Programme
At the end of the Programme, the following material were successfully distributed. 3,000 insecticides, 1,500 long acting insecticides treated bed net (ICONET family size or equivalent as agreed by the directorate. Medications (ACTs for 1,000 patient at each site) 500 doses of Dihydroartemisinnin/Lumefantrina combination or erquivalent for various age groups.
Communication and publicity – we ensured adequate publicity for the programme via news placement on National and State media including but not limited to television, radio and print media. In report was syndicated in the media especially print media on the project for at least 4 weeks.
WHO Oral Rehydration therapy sachets for 5,000 children was provided at each site.
IEC materials: RAHI/NDDC branded Caps, T-Shirts, Posters, etc were provided.
Challenges
Like every novel project of this nature, challenges are usually encountered. However, inspite of the challenges the team remained undaunted. We meet a number of herculean challenges in the following area:
Transport: Travelling in the creeks of the Niger Delta was arduous and risky; the waterways are usually invested with militants and gun-parading military men on the other hand.;
However, to overcome the challenges of military men; prior to the programme, we had a meeting with the Commandant of the Joint (Military) Task Force (JTF), this enabled us to have a safe passage along the waterways. On the part of the militants, our social mobilization and sensitization team was able to allay the fear of the militant that we are not spices or agents of the military that we mean them to harm but good. Also the exorbitant cost of waterway transportation was a huge challenge that RAHI was able to mop-up additional funds in that regard;
Community Expectation: The community had an erroneous impression that the RAHI team had come to solve all their problems, but we were able to tell them that our visit was to solve their immediate needs and take note of other problems and report to our funding agency;
Seizure of our electricity generating set as a community project. This problem was however solved through dialogue.
It was also noted that our budget for publicity was grossly inadequate and the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) had to go an extra mile in complementing the shortfalls; and
Our attempt to sink a water bore-hole failed due to the nature of the water (salt-water)
Sponsors: RAHI/Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
Project: Emergency Relief Services
Location: Elem Tombia, Rivers State
Attendance: Relief Materials and Anti-Malaria Drugs
Distributed to Over 1000 Displaced People
Date: 2nd – 5th December, 2008.
RAHI Medical Outreach
2nd – 5th December, 2008.