Wife of Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Patience Umo Bassey Eno, has spoken on Gender Based Violence(GBV) involving children, noting that when any incident is reported in the state, it makes her feel very terrible.
Pastor Eno made her feelings known when on Thursday, she received in audience, management staff of the Heartland Alliance Nigeria, who paid a courtesy call to the Government House in Uyo.
The governor’s wife said when she hears news about GBV especially involving children, she feels bad. She said she would do all she can to reduce this menace and eradicate them in the state.
“I look forward to working with you and others, knowing that we need all the support and assistance to conquer this scourge that is threatening our well being, norms and values,” she said.
She told the chairman of Human Rights Organisation, that she has heard what they have said and assured them that she will work together with them.
“I must commend you for the great work you have done, particularly at your facility which houses the SARC for Uyo Senatorial District where you have promptly attended to survivors of rape and other forms of violence and abuse,” the First Lady who is the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State GBV Management Committee reiterated that her office will work together with the NGO.
The State Drug Control Committee, chairman decried the state of rape and child abuse cases in the society.
“I must commend you for the great work you have done, particularly at your facility which houses the SARC for Uyo Senatorial District where you have promptly attended to survivors of rape and other forms of violence and abuse. We will work together”, the Governor’s wife assured.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Chief Executive Director of Heartland Alliance Nigeria, Dr. Bartholomew Ochonye, who informed the governor’s wife of the presence of the NGO in nine states of the country, including Akwa Ibom, said they were ready to work with her and the government in the area of public health, gender justice and issues affecting adolescents and young persons.
“We identify with state governments in all the nine states across the country where we do a lot of work around Public Health, Human Rights, Gender Justice and mental health,” he continued.
“We are here to identify with you and to brief you on the work we do, the actual activities we carry out in Akwa Ibom State.
Dr Ochonye explained that they work with Adolescents and young persons, carrying out research and have partnerships with governments at federal and state levels.
The Media Unit, Office of the Governor’s Wife, Akwa Ibom State reported that the courtesy call featured a presentation by the State Team Lead, Dr. Ngozi Nnanna.
Dr. Nnanna revealed that the NGO is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and has established offices also known as One Stop Shops in four LGA’s across the state to provide free services for survivors of rape, persons living with HIV and AIDS as well as the identification and rehabilitation of people who use and inject drugs in all the 31 LG Areas.
She rolled out statistics of how the organization in 2023, treated more than 800 Gender Based Violence related cases in the Heartland Alliance facility in Uyo.
The team lead however, said the Alliance facility serves as the State Governments Sexual Assault Referral Center (SARC) for Uyo Senatorial District, while the NGO carries out harm reduction interventions for young persons involved in substance abuse, requesting for support to the SARC center.
Truth Live News gathered that During the visit, the Wife of the Governor, Pastor Patience Umo Bassey Eno was decorated as an Ambassador for Gender Justice.