By Abasi Ita, Calabar
The Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs in Cross River state, Edema Irom has applauded the Centre for Clinical Care and Clinical Research in Nigeria, CCCRN, for establishing a GBV Situation Room in Calabar, the state capital.
Irom, who made the commendation in Calabar while exchanging views with journalists noted that the facility will ” ensure prompt response to GBV cases, data collection and capacity building initiatives to guarantee prompt integration of survivors back into the society”
According to her” The state government in general, and the ministry in particular is immensely grateful for this huge intervention project undertaken by one of our major partners, CCCRV. The facility will greatly enhance data collation and transmission needed for informed policies formulation,implementation and appraisal. The facility is a product of robust synergy.
“We are ready to provide the enabling environment for similar intervention from other development partners in furtherance of our collective quest to eradicate gender -based violence, sexual exploitations of our vulnerable children and mothers, as well as other harmful practices against girls and women”
She expressed appreciation to the wife of the state governor Rev. Mrs Eyoawan Otu for her peculiar interest and commitment towards creating a society where the female gender can optimize her full potential and aspirations without barriers
“We are grateful to God Almighty for grace.We are delighted by the huge support and cooperation enjoyed by the ministry from the office of the First Lady, Cross River state as well as our numerous partners and stakeholders geared towards ensuring the success of this year’s International Women Day. We pledged our readiness for effective collaboration to achieve our common targets”
Also speaking, spokesperson of Heartland Alliance, Patricia Undelikwo commended CCCRN for the bold initiative stressing that the facility will serve as a rallying point for coordinated approach to mitigate cases of gender- based violence and other forms of sexually motivated assaults.
Speaking before the formal handing over of the facility, the state representative of CCCRN, Grace Essien revealed that the facility was conceived to address the unique needs of vulnerable men, women, boys and girls stigmatized by HIV, GBV and varying degrees of prevailing dishumanising practices which are perceived as health issues by CCCRN.
In her words” CCCRN and our funders consider Gender-Based Violence GBV as part of health issue. Therefore, we have invested in the establishment of a OVC and GBV Situation Room in collaboration with the Ministry of Woman Affairs to enhance GBV responses and data coordination from local government for prompt intervention and policy formulation”
The CCCRN rep expressed optimism that the facility would afford stakeholders a conducive environment to explore available data needed in developing empirical and culturally friendly mediation interventions and laws to safeguard the vulunrables.