When you walk into the IDP Mega Camp in Makurdi at dawn, you are greeted by the quiet rustle of life children stirring, women lighting fires, men preparing for another day of survival. But beneath this routine lies a hidden struggle many do not see: the silent battle of pregnant mothers trying to bring new life into a world that has offered them very little stability.
For months, most of these women have lived with uncertainty. Many fled their homes with nothing but their children, their clothes, and hope. In a place without consistent food, income, or privacy, pregnancy becomes more than a journey of joy it becomes a daily question of survival.
This is where RCN Mission Hospital, through Arome Care, stepped in.
The Day Hope Came to Camp
On a warm morning, our medical missions team arrived at the IDP camp with one mission:
to provide free, comprehensive antenatal care to every pregnant woman who needed it and many did.
Word spread quickly. Young women, elderly mothers, first-time pregnant teenagers, widows, and even women who had not stepped into a clinic in years began gathering at our registration desk. Some came carrying toddlers; some came with friends for courage; some came simply because they heard, “the doctors will see you for free.”
One mother said, “I have been praying for help. I have not done any scan since I conceived. Today, God remembered me.”
Antenatal Care With Dignity
Throughout the day, our team conducted:
- Ultrasound scans
- Blood pressure checks
- Anaemia screening
- Urinalysis
- Nutrition counselling
- Health education classes
- Medication and supplements distribution
- Birth preparedness guidance
For many women, it was their first-ever ultrasound scan. The moment they saw their babies move on the screen, some cried. Some laughed. Some placed their hands over their mouths in disbelief. One woman clasped her chest and whispered, “So this is my baby… I have seen him today.”
These moments reminded us why mission medicine matters because health is not a privilege; it is a right, even for the displaced.
The Hard Truth: Maternal Risks Are Higher in IDP Communities
Pregnant women in IDP camps face risks far above the national average:
- Limited access to healthcare
- Malnutrition
- Stress and trauma
- Poor sanitation
- Lack of safe delivery options
- High exposure to infections
- Inability to afford hospital care
Every antenatal visit we provided that day was more than a medical encounter—it was a potential life saved.
Arome Care: Bringing Light to Dark Places
Through this outreach and many more to come, we reaffirm our belief that every woman deserves a safe pregnancy, regardless of where she sleeps at night or what she fled from.
Our team left the camp tired, dusty, but fulfilled. As we packed our equipment, a woman approached one of our midwives and said:
“Please don’t forget us. We need you.”
We will not forget.
This is our calling.
This is our covenant.
This is Arome Care.
Because Every Child Deserves a Safe Beginning
Our work in the IDP camp is far from over. This outreach is just the beginning of a larger commitment to maternal and child health in displaced communities. With support from our partners and the dedication of our team, we will continue to show up week after week, camp after camp, mother after mother until safe motherhood becomes a reality for all.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds’’ (Psalm 147:3).
A safe pregnancy is a story of hope. And at RCN Mission Hospital, we are honoured to be part of that story.
