The Kogi State Coordinator of the Center for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP), Pharmacist Benard Akpah has paid an advocacy visit on the Kogi Command of the Nigeria Police.
Pharmacist Akpah said his mission was to sensitize the law enforcement agencies, especially the Police on the need to report rape and violence related cases to the police.
He said the global message was to Orange the World during a 16 days activities that began on November 25th and will end on 10th December,2021.
Responding, Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Idris Dauda Dabban said that it’s observed that parents don’t report rape cases for fear of stigmatization.
CP Dabban further wondered why the focus has always been on women and not men. He however promised to provide a level ground for the CIHP-KOGI to hold a sensitization talk with the command.
Meanwhile, as part of activities marking the Gender Based Violence (GBV) week, a one day sensitization meeting was convened for the Kogi State Police Command of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Linkages and Treatment Support Senior Associate of the CIHP, Modey Justina said the campaign against Gender Violence was in State Headquarters of the Nigeria Police because there was no way the campaign can be complete without the law enforcement agencies.
Modey Justina added that this year’s theme of the campaign is END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NOW-2021. She stressed that GBV is abuse directed at an individual, based on his/her biological sex, identity or perceived adherence to socially defined expectations.
While noting that Gender is a culturally set of economic, social and political roles, responsibilities, rights, entitlements and obligations associated with being female or male, pointing out that Gender and Sex cannot be seen to be synonymous.
Justina analysed the relationship between GBV and HIV and identified various roles the Police can play during the PRE and POST Exposure Prophylaxis to ensure the safety of the survivors.
The senior associate stressed that a major part of the work of CIHP is to provide comprehensive HIV prevention, care and treatment as well as support Gender Equity and Empowerment via Community Initiatives, including Health System strengthening.
She did not forget to add that the main deal of the sensitization exercise was violence prevention and Community mobilization as well as providing post-violence care services.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Williams Ayah coordinated the participants, with the Officer in charge of Legal and Prosecution of the command, CSP Saidat Musa in full collaboration.