In order to eradicate the case of Sexual Gender Based Violence, SGBV, the Community Advancement Initiative for Self-Reliance (CAI4SR) in conjunction with Lawyers Alert on Sexual Gender Based Violence campaign called on Osun state government through the Ministry of Health to set up Sexual Assault Referral Centres.
This was revealed under the SCALE Component Five by USAID on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Child, Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM) Sector Strengthening & Advocacy.
The Executive Director CAI4SR, Mrs Eni Ayeni, made this known at the advocacy call made to the Director Public Health, Dr Hakeem Bello.
According to the CAI4SR Director, the activation/implementation of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law VAPPL and Administration of Criminal Justice Law, ACJL is targeted at Bauchi, Benue, Enugu, Kaduna, Osun, and the FCT, towards speedy justice service delivery and resolution of SGBV cases.
The non-governmental and not-for-profit organisation founded to champion the course of women, children and persons with disabilities, through innovative programmes, to ensure protection of rights and attainment of full potential of its target, appreciated Osun government for the women, children and persons with disabilities laws, maintained that the Sexual Assault Referral Centre will provide support for SGB victims.
She opined that with the Referral Centre in place, it will aide speedy justice service delivery and resolution of SGBV cases with the VAPP and ACJ Laws, although passed in all project locations.
In their goodwill messages, Chairman Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD): Mr Oluwafemi Stephen, JONAPWD women wing coordinator, Mrs Funmi Abdullahi and Dr Ayeni expressed the need for identification of children with disability in mainstream schools, medical intervention and free access and health support services to PWDs in Osun state.
In response, the Director Public Health, Dr Hakeem Bello lauded the NGO for being women, children and persons with disability friendly, added that Osun government is always ready to partner organisations in providing the needed enabling environment for its targets.
He said the creation of the Referral Centre is ongoing, and when completed, it will be launched, he also asked for the cooperation of CAI4SR on other related cases, saying the School Health Desk services will be revived, more persons with disability will be assisted in getting enrolled for free health services on the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS) programme among others.
