Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo has charged stakeholders in the women and children affairs to step up awareness on the issue of gender based violence against women in the state.
Dr. Banigo stated this at a stakeholders meeting held at her instance in Government House, Port Harcourt, on how to reduce the prevalence of cases of gender violence against women and stigmatization.
The Deputy Governor explained that the interactive meeting was to proffer solution on how to bring help and hope to those abused in different forms with a view to ameliorating their predicament.
She further noted that the forum afforded Stakeholders the opportunity to appreciate what each Ministry and Organization are doing and how to harmonize issues of public enlightenment and enforcement of existing legislation.
“The issue of gender base violence is huge and over- whelming. I want us to come together and see how best to salvage the situation because it is so bad. It is happening before our own eyes and we have to do something about it”. She stated.
Dr. Banigo lauded the various Organisations for working in different ways to reduce the menace of violence against women and children, adding that the coordinated involvement of the State Government would bring succour to the communities.
In their separate presentations, the immediate past President of Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Rivers State branch, Dr. Adebiyi Obelebra, Field Coordinator, Doctors without Borders, Dr. Imri Schattmez and FIDA representative, Ms. Enelusace Dan-Jumbo, said 332 cases of violence against women were reported between February and November 2015 in the state.
They noted that several cases of gender abuse are not being reported because of the culture of silence, feeling of guilt and stigmatization, and called for appropriate punishment for the perpetrators of violence against women and children.
High point of the meeting was the setting up of a three man Committee made up of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Special Adviser, Legal to the Deputy Governor and a representative of the World Health Organization to produce a communiqué that would form the basis for actualising the action plan.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Deputy Governor has felicitated with the sole Administrator of Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) and Chairman of the State People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Bro. Felix Obuah on his birthday anniversary.
Dr. Banigo, In a statement by her Press secretary, Paul Damgbor said Bro. Obuah has impacted many lives even before his political exploits in the State Stressing that his nickname ’’GO ROUND” was a true reflection of his gregarious, transparent and wide acceptance by the people.
The Deputy Governor lauded Bro. Obuah for redeeming the Party image and sanitising the state from the environmental mess and financial burden left behind by the previous administration who refused to pay refuse contractors for about 3 months and prayed God to continue to grant him good health and wisdom to serve humanity.
She urged Rivers people to support the RIWAMA boss in the renewed move by the state government to restore the glory of PH as the Garden city of Nigeria by keeping their environment clean always.
Meanwhile, the Permanent  Secretary  Ministry of Health, Mrs. Caroline Wali  has called on the citizens of Etche, Omuma, Okrika and Ogu-Bolo Local Government Areas to take advantage of the week long Mass Administration of Medicine (MAM) as Preventive Chemotheraphy for Soil Transmitted Helminths (Intestinal Worms) and Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis) in these L. G. As.
The MAM exercise which is done in collaboration with the World Health Organization, (WHO) is for all residents of these areas from Five years and above.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the Directly Observed Treatment (DOT)  which is on-going in these LGAs is important as the de-worming of citizens is the first step towards breaking the transmission of these neglected tropical diseases in the State.