By Peter Duru, Makurdi
Participants at the just concluded training the trainers workshop on Gender Based Violence in Emergencies, GBViE, organised by the Benue State University, BSU, Makurdi, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, have urged the establishment of Sexual Assault Referal Centres in hospitals across Benue state.
They noted that the centres would offer medical and psycho-social support to the increasing number of GBV cases in parts of the state.
In the communique issued at the end of the workshop they observed that the state currently had only one of such referal centres in spite of the rising cases of GBV in the state.
They advised that: “Sexual Assault Referral Centre, such as the one at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, should be set up in all hospitals in the state and provided with adequate materials and specialized manpower to make them effective.
“There should also be a strong synergy between the Centre and the Benue State University.”
They also called for the introduction of thematic areas of GBV into the country’s school curriculum; building strong synergy between the Benue state government and relevant donor agencies to help improve life at the mega IDP camp at Mbayongo by providing more security, water and health facilities at the camp.
They urged that “Benue state government should collaborate with donour agencies to provide literacy education facilities for children in the IDP camps.
“The Benue State Government should liaise with the relevant security agencies to deploy digital security surveillance devices such as drones in and around the IDP camps to enable a first-line response to security concerns.
“UNFPA is admonished to extend its training to the Nigerian Police and other Security formations, as well as the Judiciary in Benue State to enable proper and prompt responses to cases of GBV survivors and other humanitarian crisis in the state.”
The communique was signed on behalf of participants by the Chairman, Prof. Gabriel Akume, and Secretary, Dr. Shimenenge Atime, as well as Prof. Bernard Utoo, Dr. Chris Orngu, Dr. John Tsuwa, Dr. Justina Jor and Dr. Venessa Adzer.
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