Rivers: Committee Records 150 Violent Cases Against Women

The Observatory Steering
Committee on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWGs), Rivers State, says it has recorded over 150 cases of violence against women and girls from February to August, 2015.
The monitoring and evaluation officer of OBSTEC, Dr Vetty Agala, who stated this in a sensitisation meeting with members of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Port Harcourt, recently said out of the 150 cases, majority were child abuse and wife battery.
According to her, about five serious cases were follow up and perpetrators arrested and prosecuted .
Out of 150 cases referred to us, we are following up five. As we speak, we have  been able to get perpetrators arrested, we were able to ensure that those who needed medical attention have gotten it”, she said.
She continued that “we cannot go beyond what the victims want us to do. The only thing is to educate them on the intricacies of various forms of violence, steps to take if need be, and the immediate and late complications of such violent act”, adding that “the victim will weigh the options, and take informed decisions on the matter”.
“If the incident requires medical attention, the victim will be given adequate treatment, and if the victim wants the case to be handled legally, the federation of women lawyers will take the matter up, counselors are also in our midst to handle psychological cases, etc.
She hinted that the purpose of the sensitisation meeting was to intimate members of NOA with the objectives and solicit their (NOA) support in carrying out aggressive enlightenment campaign on violence against women and girls  in all the Local Government Areas of the state.
On her part, Chairman of Medical Women Association of  Nigeria (MWAN), Dr Obelebra Adebiyi explained that OBSTEC was basically formed to check issues relating to violence against women and girls.
According to her, MWAN which is the female wing of Nigeria Medical Association is a world wide organisation established 96 years ago with the sole objective of addressing  issues relating to women’s health and development.
“Though the Nigerian branch of the organisation (MWAN) was formed 39 years ago, that of Rivers State was established 30 years and had successes in addressing issues such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer and generally cancers that concerns women.
“Then we go to talk about violence against women and girls. These issues are there not that the NMA does not care,  but sometimes they have a lot of issues to cater for.
“So the female doctors have come out to protect, project, and advocate on female issues. This is how the MWAN becomes the coordinating body of OBSTEC”, she said.

Sogbeba Dokubo