Adamawa One Stop SGBV Centre Receives 18 Cases In Three Months

The Adamawa One Stop Centre says it received about 19 active cases of gender and sexual violence in the first few months on its establishment.

The centre was established three months ago to handle cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Adamawa State.

Speaking to NAN on Sunday in Yola, the state capital, Manager of the centre, Chigozie Precious, said nine of the SGBV survivors are minors, while 10 are above the age of 18.

“The centre is women-friendly, where we provide multi disciplinary, multi sectorial and coordinated services for survivors of SGBV and harmful practices.

“The medical unit provides medical attention to survivors and takes samples for police to convey to the Adamawa DNA Forensic Laboratory at the Modibbo Adama University for investigation.

“We have shelters for the SGBV survivors while the case is ongoing; we also have vocational angle for entrepreneural skills and financial literacy component part of the project.

“What we did was to identify the needs of survivors, put them through skill acquisition, and identify how they can sustain businesses," he revealed.

He further explained that structures were provided by the state government with fund from the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative through the UN Population Fund (UNFPA Nigeria), with support from the state’s ministries of health, justice, education, women affairs and FIDA.

The manager added that the centre provides 24 hours service, with a toll-free number — 08002200100 — for virtual response on SGVB cases.

Precious further said that the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have desks at the centre for investigation and handling of evidences to fast track prosecution of perpetrators in court.

“The aim is to make sure that justice is served at the right time,” he said.

The centre manager, therefore, urged parents to take good care of their children, especially the girl-child against SGBV and to report any bad/negative incidences to the centre for prompt action.