Doctors Without Borders Seek To Partner Wike

The Doctors Without Borders have commended Governor Nyesom Wike’s development strides in Rivers State, and called for collaboration to raise public advocacy that will promote healthy living in the state.
The Field Coordinator of Doctors Without Borders, Mrs Marie Castro, made the commendation recently in Port Harcourt when she visited the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George.
Castro stated that within the past one year, the state has enjoyed infrastructural development, pointing out that only a visionary leader would accomplish what Wike had done.
She said that over the past one year, the organization in partnership with the state government had carried out counselling and mental health support for victims of sexual violence at the Orogbum Health Centre in the state capital.
The field coordinator regretted the stigma attached to sexual violence, and called on all stakeholders to support the organization’s programmes as they plan to open three more clinics in the state.
Responding, Tam-George stated that the governor would give healthcare delivery a major boost this year through the upgrading and equipping of health care facilities across the state.
While pledging that government would collaborate with the organisation, the commissioner noted that cultural impunity by men has been the driving force behind sexual violence, and called for the use of different advocacy methods that would re-orientate the people and also break inhibitions on sex education.
“As a result of the kind of patriarchal society that we run, sexual violence offenders usually go scot free most of the times while victims are made to bear the blame,” he stated.
The commissioner suggested that for advocacy on the issue to make the desired impact, especially on the lives of minors, Doctors Without Borders should consider the use of drama as a tool for public enlightenment in communities and schools.
Tam-George pointed out that organizations involved in public health should pay greater attention to preventive medicine through regular awareness creation in order to reduce the percentage of those that flood health institutions for medical care.
He commended the organization for their selfless services to the country, and urged them to extend their activities to more rural communities.