Group, Udu Council Intensify Awareness Campaign On GBV, Menstrual Health, Drug Abuse, HIV , Others In Udu LGA

Group, Udu Council Intensify Awareness Campaign On GBV, Menstrual Health, Drug Abuse, HIV , Others In Udu LGA

By Magnus Emuji 

A Non-Governmental Organization known as Association Against Child Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Forum of African Women Educationalists, Delta State Branch and the UN Women GEWE Coordination Mechanism, Delta State in collaboration with Udu Local Government Area of Delta State has carried out a - 2 day  awareness campaign program on integrated sexual, gender based violence,menstrual health and rights , family planning and drug abuse as well as HIV/AIDS in the local government.

Speaking during the sensitization program, the chairperson of the association, Amb. (Dr.) Eris Jewo-Ibi stressed the need for collective efforts in tackling and preventing gender based violence in the society and called for the economic empowerment of women and the girl child.

Jewo-Ibi urged teachers from various schools and Ward representatives in the local government area , whom she inaugurated as community vanguards to contribute meaningfully towards the eradication of issues of GBV and Women/Girls Empowerment in their ongoing GBV program in the 25 local government areas.

Jewo-Ibi, who made presentations on various contents of her book including the prevention of gender based violence, responses of gender based violence,  violence against persons prohibition law among other contents, revealed a referral pathway and phone numbers through which people could call whenever there was any incident of violence against women in their nearby compounds.

While commending that Chief Inspector of Education (CIE) in charge of Udu local government area for mobilizing representatives of all schools in the local government area to participate in the sensitization program, Jewo-Ibi reiterated that this activity ended  the second quarter.

Jewo-Ibi stated that in the ongoing quarter, the Chairman of Udu Local Government Council, Olorogun (Hon.) Vincent Oghenruemu Oyibode urged them to go round all  the  schools in the local government to sensitize the children and members of the public on the need to prevent gender based violence and also create awareness on the negative impacts of drug abuse in the society.

Addressing participants in the program, the Chairman of Udu Local Government Council, Olorogun (Hon.) Vincent Oghenruemu Oyibode, JP emphasized the benefits of girl child education and enjoined parents to take the education of their girl children seriously, urging the children to shun indecent dressing.

Oyibode, however, promised to empower small businesses owners in their forthcoming empowerment program that would be organized later in the month and rewarded two outstanding girls from the community for excellent performances in school in their early age .

On his part, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Delta State Governor on Civil Society and Civic  Engagement, Activist Rex Anigoro encouraged the children to be focused and be dedicated to their studies, just as he reminded them every hard work has its reward.

Anigoro explained that girl child education must be prioritized because of the benefits and urged tht boy child to abstain from all forms of crimes, especially drug abuse and cultism, noting that people must speak out against issues of GBV.

Emphasizing further, Amb Keonyenasoa Odijie,  Coordinator of Forum of African Women Educationalists in Delta State reiterated the importance of education and how gender based Violence abort dreams of young girls. 

She called on students tou speak up once violated at home or in the school.

In her remarks, the convener of June 30 activity, Dr. Joan Tejiri Willy implored children to always maintain personal hygiene practices, pointing out that girl child should use sanitary pads while both  the boys and girls should keep themselves clean at all times by taking their bath regularly.Sanitary pads and roll on were gift items presented to the girls and boys respectively.