PRESS RELEASE
The Akwa Ibom State Governor’s wife, Her Excellency Dr. Martha Udom Emmanuel has sued for partnership from donor agencies to aid in empowering victims of Gender Based Violence in the State.
The First Lady made this plea when she received the Norwegian Government delegation and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) officials through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who came on a courtesy call to Government house, Uyo.
Dr. Emmanuel appreciated the agencies for picking interest in Akwa Ibom State and acknowledged that partnering with them has made the work on family health, gender based violence, etc. a lot easier.
Worthy of mention to the donor agencies is the fact that the Government has set up the Gender Based Violence Management Committee in the State to solicit for possible ways to bring gender based violence to an end in the State while the culprits are brought to book.
She stressed that a lot of sensitization campaigns are ongoing among stakeholders in the state on how to tackle the menace of gender based violence, adding that more awareness will also be created for men so they do not see family planning as women only affair, but also get actively involved as family planning is a family matter.
The Governor’s wife appealed to the agencies for more funds in empowering the victims of gender based violence as they will be kept within the gender based violence management center until they are stable enough to fend for themselves.
Dr. Emmanuel intimated her guests that a 60 bed space gender based management center is still under construction in the State to help house victims.
Speaking earlier, the head of office UNFPA Cross River sub office Ms. Marija Rakovic thanked Her Excellency, the wife of Governor for the positive results so far recorded in the State after conducting a State wide tour to various project sites as well as her leadership role and support all through the project period.
She also noted that there is need to work more with men and get them involved in family planning.
The First Secretary Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Trygve Aurdal-Vold in his remarks also thanked Her Excellency for her passion and commitment in the areas of women, children and family.
He stated the need for a mixed approach in the fight against gender based violence in order for the committee and other NGO’s to be able to fight the menace to a standstill while advising that small champions at local level should be included in the fight for a more effective result.
Other people in the team present during the courtesy visit include The Reproductive Health Specialist UNFPA country office, Abuja, Dr. Musa Elisha, the Sexual Reproductive Health analyst UNFPA Cross River Sub-Office, Dr. Araoyinbo Idowu, The Sexual Reproductive Health analyst UNFPA country office Abuja, Dr. Baba Mari, Representatives from other NGO’s, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Augustine Umoh and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor/ Head of Department of Multilateral and Donor Agencies Hon. Ndianabasi Udom.
