By Ovat Abeng
Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), has called for partnership with governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s administration to sensitized Anambra State on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) challenges.
They also call on institutions, Civil Society Organisations and the media to join force on the enlightenment campaign across communities in the state.
WARDC made this call in Awka, on Wednesday, during a roundtable discussion with grassroots women associations, Civil Society Organisations and other leaders of though to brainstorm on Violence Against Women and Girls, harmful practices and women and girls access to sexual rights and health rights, which was organised by the organisation in partnership with Center for Reproductive Right and the Canada.
Speaking during the meeting attended by community women who are leaders of civil society organisations, religious and other organisations in different parts of Anambra State, founding director, WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, implored the Government and other health partners to show zero tolerance to gender based violence in the state.
She stressed the need for the roles of traditional and community leaders in Anambra State to participate in the campaign against rape that usually lead to unwanted pregnancy and other gender based violence, noting that community sanctions to discourage raping and rapists will address gender based violence, especially at the grassroot level.
“To address the issue, Akiyode-Afolabi, said there must be coordinated response that will leave no one behind. There must be much more partnership between CSOs, government and private sector. Government must show zero tolerance to the challenges.
“The partnership, if implemented would create an avenue for WARDC to staged an aggressive sensitization campaign to that effect.”
Akiyode-Afolabi who participated visually, commended the State Government for ensuring a conducive environment for the one-day brainstorming.
The WARDC head of programme, Mrs Emmanuela Azo, in her welcome speech,, noted that information on SRHR is causing huge problems in Nigeria.
According to her, the brainstorming session with the relevant stakeholders on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for Women and Girls will be a project that may last for something in the state..
She said that during the period WARDC will be getting feedback from it newly inaugurated Supervisory committe to know what is available on SRHR for the state, to know what is already available in terms of the already existing Stop guildlines in the state and how to improve on them.
Azo explain that SRHR is a very broad topic because it has so many links that connect it, as it is very deep and requires serious carefulness, but the inability to talk about it has led not only Anambra but the entire country to serious problems which necessitated the reason to begin serious sensitization on it in Anambra, Osun, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Akwa Ibom States that have implemented the stop guildlines.
She said that WARDC decided to organised the one-day roundtable discussion with the relevant stakeholders to deliberate on the progress of SRHR (2020-2025) to tackle the problems that emanate from the consequences of the silence on issues related to SRHR in the state.
She stressed that one of the goals of the project is to change the mindset and understanding of the people of the State on SRHR and to reduce death rates linked to SRHR in Anambra.
She added that another main objective of the project is to ensure that people of Anambra State have access to accurate information on SRHR and Services, especially women, girls and even men.
Azo explain that WARDC is not against the teaching of abstinence in sexual activities for youths, family planning, but warned that it is counterproductive to teach sexually active young people about abstinence.
She charged stakeholders to therefore move for proper teaching of the reasons why abstinence is necessary not just the abstinence so that the younger ones will understand better.
She noted that the newly inaugurated Supervisory committee would work collaboratively with the government health officers within their various council areas to create more awareness on the SRHR stop guildlines. She defined Stop guildlines as legal indication that protect women sexual and reproductive health, particularly, women who got pregnancy under forced circumstances and that it also reduce the high rate of unsafe abortion in a state that have implemented the stop guildlines like Anambra State.
Mrs Azo commended the State Government for having the Stop guildlines policy.
One of the participant, Prince Chris Azor, who spoke on behalf of other participating CSO’s, urged the organisers to also extend the sensitization campaign to male gender, noting that the burden of pregnancy should not be the responsibility of women alone.
Azor while urging the state government to assist equip healthcare facilities at the rural areas, assure the organisation that CSO’s in the state would fully support the project to achieve it set goals.
The discussion was facilitated by the Coordinator, Anambra State Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), Prof Ifeanyichukwu Ezebialu.