Damaturu, 1 July, 2024 – The primary time Amina Tijani (title modified) 17 years previous, visited the Girls and Kids Well being Facility in Damaturu, Yobe State, she seemed round anxiously and was not sure whether or not she might share her expertise or not. Reassured by the friendliness of the well being employee who promised her full privateness, Amina was in a position to share her story about her abuse. 

“I used to be asleep after I felt the inappropriate contact. I started struggling and crying, begging him to cease. However he was a lot stronger and raped me, she says in a shaky voice. 

The perpetrator whom she sees each day threatened to kill her and her household in the event that they reported  She lived in silence, concern, and trauma for over two months, till her guardian took her to the well being centre to hunt skilled well being.

After three weeks {of professional} care, Amina says “I’m completely satisfied to hunt assist. I now know I did nothing incorrect nor was it my fault. I’m studying to have a look at life positively and can return to high school to finish my training. 

The well being staff present skilled and emotional assist, together with medical check-ups and alerting the authorities on gender-based violence reported within the facility.  

Like Amina, many ladies and youngsters within the locality have suffered sexual and gender-based violence, however only some summoned the braveness to hunt assist. Gender-based violence (GBV) stays a pervasive situation, affecting thousands and thousands of individuals, particularly individuals in humanitarian-affected areas like Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states (BAY), northeast Nigeria. 

At the moment, about 2.1 million weak individuals within the BAY states require safety towards gender-based violence in 2024, as a result of extended humanitarian disaster. Of which, 1.3 million individuals are focused, and about, 500,000 are girls, 800,000 are kids, and about 9% are individuals dwelling with disabilities.

This yr, Yobe state has reported over 490 GBV instances from January to April 2024.  The World Well being Group (WHO), with funding from the US Company for Worldwide Growth/Bureau for Humanitarian Assist (USAID/BHA)  is strengthening the capability of 130 major healthcare staff within the state to answer sexual and gender-based violence (GBV)  and supply survivor-centred care. 

In collaboration with over 10 civil society organizations (CSOs), WHO is supporting Yobe State authorities to facilitate entry to high quality well being providers for survivors of GBV with medical and psychological wants within the 17 Native Authorities Areas (LGAs) within the state. 
A well being employee on the facility Musa Adamu (title modified), says “Generally victims don’t understand they’re being abused or are scared to succeed in out for assist, fearing it should worsen the issues or that the providers won’t be confidential.  

We provide a patient-centred method, we not solely present medical and psychosocial assist but in addition educate the neighborhood on sexual and gender-based violence and the necessity for well timed medical assist”.

The providers offered within the protected centres embody therapy of bodily accidents, prevention of HIV/AIDS, undesirable pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and counselling for extreme psychological issues. The staff additionally increase consciousness throughout the communities on the significance of well timed medical and psychological care by way of well being training and outreach actions.

“WHO’s management in championing GBV response providers could be very commendable,” says Mr Abudllahi Danchuwa, the Chairman, of the Committee for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). “WHO gives relentless assist in guaranteeing underserved and uncovered populations have entry to GBV by impacting well being suppliers with abilities to establish indicators of violence, ship applicable first-line assist together with psychosocial assist, in addition to present applicable referrals to greater well being services and social assist providers if wants be. 

“Additionally they offered technical assist, equipping SAR Centres, and on-the-job mentoring. I’m optimistic that the collaboration will proceed and that weak individuals will proceed to have entry to GBV providers, added My Danchuwa.

The assist offered is in step with the fourth WHO Nigeria Nation Company Technique (CCSIV), and the Sector Extensive Method (SWAp), amongst different priorities championed by the Federal Authorities of Nigeria, to enhance the standard of care and repair supply in PHCs, thereby guaranteeing entry to well being providers.

“Sexual assault, home violence, girls and little one abuse are all emergencies, affecting hundreds of individuals in Yobe state. WHO acknowledges a duty to assist the federal government in responding to the wants of probably the most affected inhabitants. As such, WHO is guaranteeing that well being suppliers on the Major Well being Centres (PHCs) and well being champions purchase the related abilities to allow them to establish girls at risk earlier than the violence escalates, present applicable medical care, cut back destructive well being outcomes of violence, help survivors in accessing assist, says Ms Sylvia Opinia, WHO Coordinator for the Prevention and Response to Sexual Misconduct.

In addition to the PHC method, the state ensured that GBV providers are offered to weak populations in underserviced communities by way of the WHO-supported cellular hard-to-reach groups and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

“Within the first quarter of 2024, a minimum of 66,000 individuals had been reached with GBV messages by way of the WHO-supported cellular hard-to-reach groups. Of the quantity reached, about 40 individuals had been referred for additional administration, added Dr Kumshida Balami, WHO Interim Northeast Emergency Supervisor. 

“This strategic method is a part of WHO’s dedication to strengthen the well being system in Yobe state, provides Dr Balami.