Hobson Underscores Importance Of GBV Survivors Trust Fund As DELSACA Holds GHR Quarterly Meeting In Asaba

Hobson Underscores Importance Of GBV Survivors Trust Fund As DELSACA Holds GHR Quarterly Meeting In Asaba 

By Magnus Emuji 

The Executive Secretary, Delta State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS , Dr. Rudolf Hobson, has underscored the importance of Trust Fund for Gender-Based Violence and Gender and Human Rights survivors.

Dr. Hobson, who stated this during their second quarter meeting on GHR in Asaba, revealed that efforts had been made to  design a policy geared towards ensuring that LACA intensify its sensitization and advocacies.

He noted that the response for Gender-Based Violence would come from the local government, stressing that there was need for people to be aware of the chain of response for rape and GBV cases.

He told their partners from various Civil Society Organizations that they should develop a template so that people would know the processes of GBV and GHR response.

Dr. Hobson enjoined CSOs and CBOs to work in synergy with their Local Government Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS(LACA) at the local government level whenever they have activities, especially GBV/GHR programs.

The DELSACA Boss explained that when the LACA officers were carried along by the CSOs and CBOs, the tendency of any variations in their reports on GBV and GHR cases would be averted.

In his presentation, the State Chairman of Civil Society Organization in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN), Pastor Gregory Sifo stated that ACOMIN had been able to reach out to 15 stakeholders during the recent visit of the National officials of his organization.

Sifo said that survey from their organization indicated that they were making tremendous impact in the State, noting that ACOMIN had created  awareness on its activities in the State, just as he emphasized the need for sustainability of the successes recorded.

On his part, Rev. Fr. John Bosco Ezeonwumelu stated that over 90% cases of GBV were from cohabitation and asserted that women that cohabit with men without proper marriage have lost their values , emphasizing that cohabitation was a one of the catalysts to GBV.

The representative of Karachi Rural-Urban Development Initiative (KRUDI), Mr. Chiedozie Onyeukwu said that 4 GBV cases were reported within the quarter under review with two cases resolved while two cases were reported under health services.

He implored various stakeholders to intensify case funding of the community for TB and TB GHR , collaborate with partners and CBOs and harmonize TB GHR  reporting template in other disease areas such as HIV as well as continue to address stigma and other legal literacy on Gender-Based Violence and monitoring of human rights abuses.

The Gender-Based Violence desk officer in the State Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno and the representatives of the other Civil Society Organizations including, the Founder of Akamagwuna Initiative, Uche Akamagwuna,  Amb. Eris Jewo-Ibi , Barr. Patience Ohoriemu from the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and the Chief Legal Officer from the National Human Rights Commission, Barr. (Mrs )  Patience Ovuezine Chijundu as well as the GBV desk officer in the Delta State Police Command made presentations.