NGO trains healthcare workers, CDC on handling SGBV cases

By Stanley Onyekwere

In order to ensure effective handling of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG) yesterday organised a one-day intensive training  for healthcare workers and members of Community Development Committee (CDC) in Abuja.

In particular, the training with the theme: “Strengthening the capacity of FCT PHCs on SGBV case management and access to  efficient healthcare service delivery, had  trainees drawn from across Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Bwari.

Also, the participants were introduced to methodology of handling issues of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in their areas, as they are the frontline workers and people that should be sensitised on the menace, as they have daily interactions with, so that they will understand how to manage SGBV as leaders.

It was gathered that the NGO had outlined three series of trainings for 20 PHC workers each from the six Area Councils, in addition to members of CDC, who are given the mandate to manage healthcare facilities in their communities.

AEIG Founder, Abiodun Essiet, explained that the training will help to improve their way of managing cases of SGBV and services of PHCs in the FCT.

Abiodun, noted that they were taught how to do proper management and documentation of cases of SGBV, so as not to tamper with evidence, which can be used for prosecution. 

She said: “The healthcare workers are front liners that manage SGBV cases and other people interact with to share ideas. So it is important that we re-orientate them about their positions and how to handle cases of SGBV.

“Our project goal is to strengthen traditional justice system, to effectively combat SGBV, and we have done that across the Area Councils last year, so what we are doing now is to train the healthcare workers, who will be interfacing with CDC members.

“These are issues of paramount concern to communities, where  most of the original inhabitants of the FCT, as it is only the PHCs that they can access care. Let’s work together to see how we can promote healthcare facilities, so that the original inhabitants will be better served”.

Similarly, Founder, Make Our Hospital Work Campaign, Dr. Laz Eze, who presented a paper on Promoting Health Care Delivery: The role of primary health care, stressed the need for primary healthcare facility should be accessible and affordable to the people.

On his part, one of the participants, Philemon Garba, said the training is a welcome idea as in the society today, a lot of things are happening because of lack of knowledge about the meance.

Garba noted that if only the people are enlightened on the issues, many of them will not fall victim. 

“The training is a welcome idea, so when we go back to our communities, we will be able to let them know, by trying to bring the awareness to them”, he added.