Strategic
Humanitarian Services SHUMAS has begun the donation of insecticide mosquito bed
nets to internally displaced children in the NW region. The bed nets
distribution which is targeting about 45000 families takes place in homes,
churches and community gatherings.
Distributing
the bed nets at the St. Michaels Catholic Church in Futru Nkwen Sunday March
17, A SHUMAS delegation led by Ntam Beri explained to the beneficiaries that
the insecticide mosquito bed nets donation is part of a joined SHUMAS-UNICEF
project intended to accompany IDP parents and their Children between 0-5years
of age prevent malaria.
 |
| SHUMAS Director hands Mosquito bed nets |
To be able
to reach out only to the targets being IDP children and host families, the
delegation did not only insist on registering but also insisted on seeing the
children before handing over the anti-malaria tool.
“This is not
my first time of having a mosquito net. I had one when I was living in Kumbo
but because of the war when I was running to Bamenda I could not be looking for
a net. I just wanted to run with my child to where we could be alive. I have
been to the hospital twice and they have said my son is suffering from malaria
which we have managed to treat. I thank SHUMAS very much for this donation. As
I go home now I will just put it up over our small bed. I hope my children will
not get malaria again. I will always try to have it on when we are sleeping.”
Anthony’s mother a beneficiary said.
With six
children at home and two of them orphans, Margaret Lum from Bafut who only came
to Church with two was filed with joy and praised SHUMAS for the donation
saying (roughly translated from pidgin) “I thank SHUMAS very much. I am very
happy. With these children at home I was afraid they may fall sick and I did
not know where to get a net and medicine from if they are sick. The two who are
with me are orphans and I am the only one taking care so I have to make sure
they are not sick.”
 |
| Ntam Beri leads SHUMAS delegation in another bed nets handing event |
While
handing the bed nets, children also received de-worming drugs justified by the
donor as intended to help IDP children who might have changed their diets or
engage uncontrolled and poor feeding habits which provide some breeding ground
for intestinal worms in children.
The insecticide Mosquito bed net donation and deworming exercise according to SHUMAS sources is the health component of the institution’s essential family practices and social cohesion amongst internally displaces persons IDPs and their host communities in the North West and South West regions being a project supported by The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund UNICEF.
 |
| Experience Sharing Workshop |
The donation and deworming comes after the second Experience
sharing workshop organised by SHUMAS in
Bamenda February 27 for Community based Organisations CBOs, project field workers, health professionals, as well as some IDPs to
share on the project achievements, challenges and plan on better ways to
improve the C4D project implementation with already emerging success stories.
The C4D
project it should be recalled was conceived as a humanitarian response to the almost three years old socio political, humanitarian,
security and economic crisis in the North West and South West Regions.
According to beneficiaries of the project who spoke during the workshop family
hygiene and sanitation as well as cohesion has very well improve with less
cases of hospital admissions and family quarrels.
 |
| Experience sharing workshop family photograph |
Movements, insecurity and communication have remained major
challenges for aid workers working in the projects as they are now compelled to
cover long distances on foot even in areas with gun battles. With constant
suspicion from belligerents as being spies, passing through military and
militia controlled areas is a challenge. Constant power and consequently
network cuts makes sensitisation appointments and communication almost
impossible.
Community
based Organisations CBOs, project field workers and support health professionals
have however pledged to do more work thanks to the regular assistance received
from SHUMAS and UNICEF.