…urges end to systemic actions against women, girls

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, AHF, has distributed free reusable sanitary pads to girls in Makurdi to mark the International Women’s Day, IWD, celebration in the state.

Addressing stakeholders at the event put together by the global organisation to celebrate the day in the state, the Senior Regional Medical Manager, AHF Benue Program, Dr. John Ugboji who noted the important roles women and girls play to ensure the growth of every society urged for the prioritisation of the wellbeing of women and girls in the interest of the general wellbeing of the society.

He pointed out that “we are all products of the woman so we must give priority attention to issues that concern the woman and the girl which is what we do at AHF.”

The AHF Nigeria Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborisade decried the systemic abuse women suffer and drawbacks women encounter in the society and urged that all barriers that had constituted snags to the development of women should be dismantled.

He appealed for support for the woman to enable her actualize her potentials and ensure that the girl child enjoys unhindered access to education while they also enjoy all necessary empowerment to grow and achieve their dreams, noting also that “women must be celebrated for the immense contributions they make to the development of the society.”

The Benue State HIV/AIDS Program Coordinator at the State Ministry of Health and Human Services, Dr. Joy Obatomi who charged women to change their attitude towards fellow women urged women to be helping hands to one another in order to accelerate the progress of one another.

She said: “Women must desist from pulling down one another, if we must accelerated our progress then we must learn to support one another to make progress on all fronts. This years theme of the IWD is a reminder to all that we must all work together with a shared vision to support the woman to grow and achieve her dreams. And in doing that we must not looked down on fellow women.”

The Director of Women Affairs in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Magdalene Andor lauded AHF for its far reaching interventions in the state which she said were community based to better the lot of women and the girl child.

She enjoined Women and the society to speak out against actions and behaviours that could be injuries to the woman urging that issues of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, SGBV, against the women must not be swept under the carpet but given the required attention it deserves.

On his part, the State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Daniel Entonu while pointing out the vulnerability of women in the society commended AHF for its interventions and advocacy to support and help women and the girl child in the state.

He sued for accelerated action to give women the needed voice in the society because of the important role they play in ensuring the well-being of the society.

Also, the State Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Blessing Ityohuun pointed out that her organisation and AHF share a common vision that seeks to protect women and the girl child, emphasizing “we share a covision with AHF. We are the voice for the voiceless women and children and we will continue to partner in our shared vision to ensure that women have a voice and are able to realise their potentials.”

On her part, the state Chairperson of the Association of Women Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, ASWHAN, Mrs. Esther Abba lauded AHF for the good work it was doing in the state. She cautioned her members against keeping multiple sex partner and advised those practicing the act to desist in their own interest.