By Funmi Olasupo
Abuja—The ongoing consultative and inclusive process towards the development of National Intervention Plan for the treatment and support of survivors of insurgency, especially women and girls, is critical to the development of the country, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, said yesterday.

The Minister stated this at a one-day national validation meeting on guidelines for prevention and response for intervention on gender-based violence in the North-East and other parts of the country in Abuja.

Maina said the guideline was expected to include, among others, counselling, provision of mental health services and continued schooling of affected victims of school age.

Maina said the guideline was expected to include, among others, counselling, provision of mental health services, continued schooling of affected victims of school age, provision of community-based initiatives and services, involving other professional agencies and personnel.

In her remarks, Director, Women and Gender Affairs, Mrs. Iran Ajufo, said ending the scourge of gender-based violence was imperative for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs.