By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Hope has come for victims of Gender based Violence (GBV) in Akwa Ibom State to receive prompt treatment, as wife of the governor, Dr. Martha Emmanuel has inaugurated a Sexual and Gender Based Referral Centre for Uyo Senatorial District.
The centre which was instituted by Heartland Alliance Ltd/GTE in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Gender Based Violence Management Committee is designed to offer free medical and economic services to all victims of sexual and gender based assaults in the senatorial district.
Speaking before the inauguration of the facility situated at 26 Abel Damina Drive, Osongama Estate in Uyo, wife of the governor who is also the chairperson of the State Gender Based Violence Management Committee, called for collaboration to end Gender Based Violence.
She informed her audience that the Center would complement the Agape Center at Immanuel hospital in Eket local government area. She also assured that the Center at the General hospital Ikot Ekpene would be opened before the end of May.
The FEYReP boss while thanking the management and staff of Heartland Alliance for their selfless service to the people of the state, pointed out that with the right collaboration, cases of rape and other vices would soon be history in the state.
The Akwa ibom First Lady also spoke against abusive relationships, advicing victims to rather consider the option of stepping aside than exposing one’s self to life-threatening risks.
She called on all victims of sexual and gender based assaults in the state to report to the law enforcement agents, saying her committee is ever ready to swing into action once notified.
In their separate remarks, the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Professor Augustine Umoh, State Team Lead of Heartland Alliance, Dr. Ngozi Nana, Special Assistant to the Governor on Multilateral and Donor Agencies, Mr. Nana Udom, and the NAPTIP Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Tina Ugwu said the center is a one-stop shop for all cases of sexual assaults in the state.
The speakers unanimously applauded the idea of having the referral center to treat and also extend both financial and psychological support to victims of sexual assaults.
