A health watch foundation, Ipas Nigeria, has expressed concerns over the unending Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) menace, reiterating that statistics still shows 3 out of 4 women, girls as survivors in the country.
The Country Director, Lucky Palmer, disclosed this in Abuja during a one-day Women Integrated Services for Health (WISH) Project Dissemination Meeting, stressing the need for more interventions if this must be nipped in the bud.
According to Palmer, SGBV has persisted with an alarming rates despite the Nigeria being a signatory to various international frameworks safeguarding women’s sexual reproductive health and rights.
He highlighted achievements in improving government policies, regulations, and laws to prevent sexual and gender-based violence. The project focused on providing services like contraception, post-abortion care, therapeutic abortion, and emotional rehabilitation through SARC centers.
Recall that the WISH project, implemented over the past five years, aimed to promote women’s bodily autonomy by engaging the government and communities.
The WISH project aimed to create a safe environment for women to plan pregnancies, improve sexual reproductive health, and prevent reproductive coercion. Notably, it sought to ensure inclusivity by including persons with disabilities and marginalized groups at the core of its initiatives. The engagement with Jigawa State parliamentarians led to the passage of the State VAPP law in 2019.
Despite challenges, such as security concerns limiting outreach in Borno state and the impact of COVID-19, the project witnessed community and religious leaders, as well as law enforcement officers, becoming champions against social norms perpetuating gender-based violence.
As the WISH project concludes, Palmer urged partners to build on its achievements, envisioning a Nigeria free from reproductive coercion, survivor stigmatization, and impunity for perpetrators.
He emphasized the goal of a society where every woman can exercise her sexual reproductive health and rights without fear or discrimination. The call is for a nation where gender-based violence is eradicated, ensuring every woman and girl enjoys full bodily autonomy to achieve their full potential.
He acknowledged the collaborative efforts with partners and implementing states, namely Jigawa, Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, and Benue. He celebrated the success of the WISH project, a transformative initiative advancing the sexual reproductive health and rights of Nigerian women. The project, funded by the British government through FCDO, addressed the vulnerabilities of marginalized women and girls in Northeast, Northwest, and Benue States.
Earlier in his goodwill message, Dr. Ejike Oji, President /CEO, Dr Ejike Oji Community Development Foundation, Chairman Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) said there is the need for the federal government to expand the Sexual Assault and Referral Centers across the country.
He urged the federal government to own it as Non Governmental Organisation (NGOs) cannot do it one. He also advocated for naming and shaming perpetrators.
Also, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Development, Mr Isikong Patricia said that the ministry takes leadership positions in terms of implementing laws and policies that address health related matters. We are happy to partner with Ipas on this WISH project that is aimed at strengthening health systems.
The highlight of the event, partners who worked on the WISH project took turns to tell their success stories.
