Stakeholders raise concern over SGBV, harmful traditional practices

Sexual and reproductive health-related violence, female genital mutilation (FGM), and other harmful traditional practices continue to raise concern among stakeholders in the health sector in Nasarawa State.

In a bid to tackle these public health challenges, the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health has launched two key regulatory documents: the Standards and Guidelines for the Medical Management of Victims of Violence and the Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy.

The 88-page document on medical management is designed to ensure that all medical and healthcare facilities in the state offer quality care to victims of violence, including rape, and provide timely referrals when necessary.

The guidelines on safe termination of pregnancy aim to provide clarity on the legal grounds for such procedures, ensuring that they are carried out safely and in accordance with the law.

Providing an overview during the official dissemination of the documents in Lafia, the state capital, Consultant Dr Akande Tajudeen noted that knowledge on managing sexual assault remains limited in most training institutions. He emphasised the importance of domesticating the national law to ensure justice for victims and to hold perpetrators accountable, thus promoting reproductive justice across the state.

Representing the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Gaza Gwamna, the Permanent Secretary, Dr John Damina, officially unveiled the two documents. He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare services to its citizens in line with global best practices. He further urged all health sector stakeholders to comply with the newly launched standards and guidelines to achieve improved health outcomes.

The State Coordinator of Reproductive Health and Family Planning, Mrs Salome Vincent, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to adapting the national documents. She highlighted their importance in addressing sexual and reproductive health violence, particularly rape.

In his remarks, the Project Manager of Ipas, Mr Samsu Gwomber, stressed that the purpose of the legal documents is to eradicate all forms of violence against persons, especially women, and not to promote immoral behaviour.

The event drew participants from the National Human Rights Commission, Ministries of Justice and Women Affairs, the World Health Organization (WHO), development partners, and civil society organisations.

Sandra Udeike