The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Offiong Offiong, has called for stronger and more coordinated efforts to tackle the menace of gender based violence in tertiary institutions, describing it as a problem with far reaching consequences for individuals and society.
Offiong made the call during a training workshop on strengthening the capacity of gender based violence care providers in higher institutions, held at the College of Medical Sciences Conference Hall, Unical.
The workshop, organised by Women and Health Together for the Future, focused on improving the competencies of caregivers and enhancing reporting mechanisms among students in tertiary institutions within the Calabar metropolis.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Linkages and Collaboration, Prof. Anthony Eneji, the Vice Chancellor said gender based violence has social, psychological, mental and clinical implications that require urgent and collective action.
Offiong urged participants to pay close attention to the training sessions and apply the knowledge gained in addressing gender based violence cases effectively.
The VC emphasised the need for a multidisciplinary approach involving sociologists, psychologists, nurses and other health professionals to provide comprehensive care and support for survivors.
He also encouraged staff and students to embrace the initiative, noting that its outcomes would benefit vulnerable groups and the wider society.
In his remarks, the Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Prof. Ngim Ngim, commended the organisers and stressed the importance of continuous training and awareness in combating rape, sexual harassment and other related issues on campuses.
Represented by Prof. Sunday Bisong, he noted that university staff must act as agents of change and remain committed to professional development and effective service delivery.
The keynote speaker and Executive Director of the Centre for Gender Development, Prof. Roseline Duke, urged participants to embrace training on the use of reporting tools introduced to address gender based violence.
She noted that universities are critical spaces for shaping social values and insisted that perpetrators must be held accountable.
Also speaking, the Provost of the College of Nursing Sciences, Cross River State Ministry of Health, Dr. Joy Obeten, described gender based violence as a global public health concern and called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to support survivors and caregivers.
The Principal Investigator, Dr. Glory Nja, said the workshop was designed to make campuses safer, especially for female students, by strengthening institutional response systems and amplifying the experiences of survivors.
She expressed appreciation to the university management for its support and commitment to staff welfare and institutional development.
Also speaking,the Director of Health Services, Dr. Kaiser Etta, also commended the initiative, noting that it provides a platform for survivors and vulnerable individuals to speak up despite the trauma associated with gender based violence.
The workshop featured presentations from experts in psychiatry, sociology, policy and gender advocacy, and ended with plans for campus wide sensitisation campaigns.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of the TOKAM App, a digital platform designed to improve reporting, access and response to gender based violence cases in tertiary institutions.