Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the wife of Lagos State Governor, has called for coordinated efforts to curtail sexual assault and gender-based violence particularly in the state and Nigeria in general.
The call,
according to her, became necessary in order to stem the rising cases of all
forms of violence in the State and also restore confidence to survivors of
sexual assault and gender-based violence.
Sanwo-Olu added
that with support and rather than resentments for victims from all residents,
ending sexual and domestic violence would be easier as more people would be
encouraged to speak up.
The First Lady,
made the call, while inaugurating the newly established Idera Sexual Assault
Referral Centre (SARC) at the Alimosho General Hospital in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu said
that the establishment of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) within the
hospital, would provide the needed care for traumatised victims of sexual and
gender-based violence.
According to her,
the establishment of the centre complements and rightly confirms the commitment
of the State government to stamp out the menace and bring dignity to both men
and women while also restoring sanity within the society.
Speaking on the
choice of Alimosho General Hospital as the location for the Centre, Dr.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the centre was strategically located in Alimosho,
considering the huge population of residents of the area and in order to
effectively cater for the needs of Lagosians within the local government and
its environs.
Also speaking at
the event, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who was
represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun
Ogboye, said that the fight against sexual assault should be approached from a
multi-sectorial response in order to tackle the menace.
The commissioner
commended the EU, British Council, ROLAC for their support, pledging that the
Ministry would continue to collaborate with partners to make access to care
readily available for victims.
In his remarks,
the Medical Director, Alimosho General Hospital, Dr. Madewa Adebajo, promised
that the centre would be put to good use for the benefit of the victims.
He furthered urged
Alimosho residents to speak out whenever there was a case of Gender-Based
Violence (GBV) and take advantage of the centre that has just been established
within the hospital to access adequate care and support.
In his goodwill
message, the Chairman, Alimosho Local Government Area, Jelili Sulaiman,
described the gesture as timely and well appreciated by all stakeholders and
the communities in Alimosho area.
He promised, on behalf of the community, to safeguard the facility and make optimal use of its services.
