Southern Kaduna: CSOs to fight gender-based violence

The Nigeria Early Recovery Initiative (NERI), a component of the United States Agency for International Development Office Transition Initiative (USAID/OTI), has partnered with the Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), Kafanchan in Kaduna’s Jema’a LGA to fight gender-based violence.

Speaking at a news conference in Kafanchan, the Programme Manager of NERI, Omokide Chikodi, said the agency has realised the need to support survivors of gender-based violence in the course of its work in Southern Kaduna.

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Chikodi, who was represented by NERI’s Programme Officer, Adamu Garba, called on well-meaning individuals and organisations to join the campaign to eradicate all forms of gender-based violence.

In her remarks, the Centre Manager of SARC, Grace Yohanna Abbin, said though set up by the Kaduna State government, the centre could not champion the fight alone.

“That is why we must thank USAID for furnishing our centre and giving us additional beds, laptop and also building our capacity,” she said.

She called on victims of all forms of gender-based violence to overlook the issue of stigma and report to the centre for help, adding that the after-effect of sexual assault was worse than stigma.

Arewa Trust Weekly reports that the centre is one of four in the state where victims of rape and other gender-based violence receive free counselling, medical and legal interventions.