Sexual assault victims access Justice in Benue

By Ijeoma Obioma

The Benue State Sexual Assault Referral Centre has been opened in a bid to address all the issues confronting victims of rape in the state in order to give them justice.

Governor Samuel Ortom in his speech at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi while inaugurating the Benue Sexual Assault Referral Centre, known as DOHAPITU Clinic, expressed optimism that the centre would bring liberty to victims.

He commended his wife, Dr. Eunice Ortom and those whose assistance ensured the establishment of the centre and assured that his Government would not relent in supporting programmes in the health sector.

The Wife of the Governor, Dr. Eunice Ortom, represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Tabitha Igirgi said the compelling need to give victims of rape hope for a better life drove her passion for the establishment of the centre.

The Coordinator, Benue Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Dr. Laadi Swende said the centre would among other things provide emergency care services, offer family planning and prevention for sexually transmitted infections to victims of rape.

Dr. Swende pointed out that the centre was open to partnership from private organisations and good spirited individuals to enable it operate twenty hours thanked the State Government for providing the funding for its establishment.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Joseph Ngbea and Chief Medical Director, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Professor Terrumun Swende in their goodwill messages appreciated Governor Ortom and his wife for their achievements in the health sector.

Earlier, the Sexual and Gender Based Justice Network, (SJN), Cluster had appealed to the Benue State Government to expedite the commissioning of Sexual Assault Referral Centrefor vulnerable women and girls to access the centre for justice.

SJN Cluster made the appeal during a press conference in Makurdi jointly addressed by Precious Solumtochukwu, the Legal Officer of Lawyers Alert; Victor Ebo, the Reproductive Rights Officer of Lawyers Alert and Laz Mon, Chairman of Benue Network of NGOs (BENGONENT).

Ozoblu who hailed the First Lady of Benue State, Mrs Eunice Ortom, for her efforts towards reducing Sexual Gender Based Violence cases in the state recommended that the government in collaboration with office of the State First Lady should commission the SARC centre and name it as a “One Stop Shop”, so that victims of SGBV can step into the centre, access psychological support, health support, legal support and protection which includes shelter.

Edited by Dada Ahmed.