Centre
By Yakubu Uba
Yola,March 27, 2018 (NAN) The European Union (EU) in collaboration with British Council and Adamawa Government, have established a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Yola for victims of rape violence.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Centre is located at the Yola Specialist Hospital.
NAN also reports that the National Programme Manager, Managing Conflict in Nigeria (MCN), an NGO funded by EU and British Council, Prof. Mohammad Tabiu attended the inauguration of the centre.
Speaking at the occasion, he said the organization which saw to the establishment of the centre had equipped it with medical and IT tools to provide psycho-social, medical examination and legal aid support to survivors of social violence.
Tabiu said the facility would serve as a one stop shop for survivors of sexual violence to have access to full package services provided by trained nurses, doctors and counsellors.
He explained that the centre known as “Adamawa Hope Centre” would also help in providing evidence in the investigation and prosecution of rape suspects.
“The Adamawa Hope Centre is expected to address the huge gab in support services for victims of sexual assault by providing free immediate medical treatment, trauma counseling and legal advice.
“It will also provide forensic medical examination services by specially trained doctors/nurses that would prepare reports, which would be admissible as evidence in court.
“The operations of the centre will be based on victim-focused and non-judgemental approach which is critical for recovery of survivors.”
Tabiu said running of the facility would be supported by MCN and manage by Ministry of Health in collaboration with Ministry of Justice, Women Affairs and Social Development, Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC)
In his remarks, the Adamawa Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Bala Sanga, lauded the setting up of the centre which he said would facilitate the prosecution of rape suspects.
Sanga said Adamawa had reviewed it penal code which now put the jail sentence for rapists to minimum of 25 years or life in prison.
In their separate contributions, the representatives of Police and NSCDC, lauded the setting up of the centre which they said would ease their job in getting evidence to prosecute suspects.
Highlights of the occasion include the swearing-in of a committee for the centre and the inauguration of the centre by the wife of the State Governor, Hajiya Maryam Bindow. (NAN)
YMU/MTM
Edited by Tukur Muntari