The Delta State Government has inaugurated two Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARC) to attend to the needs of victims and aide the prosecution of offenders.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Flora Alatan, stated this during the inauguration at the General Hospital, Warri and the Central Hospital, in Ughelli.
Reports noted that a similar center had been launched in Asaba, bring the number of sexual assault referral centers in the state to three.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Flora Alatan, said the facility has in place all responders to handle cases of sexual assault, including provisions to cater for health and psychological needs of the victims.
Alatan, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs OgheneKevwe Agas, commended partners including the Nigerian Governor’ Wives Forum for their contribution to the inauguration of the center.
She stressed, “The lawyers that would take the matter to court; the police that will procecute the perpetuator; the Social welfare officer that would give them psychosocial support. So, this center is a one-stop-shop.”
The Medical Director, General Hospital Warri, Dr. Jonathan Okolo, and the Chief Nursing Officer Central Hospital Ughelli, Mrs Aruoture, commented on the importance of the establishment of the Sexual Assault Referral Center in their facility.
Stressing the importance of the centre, Okolo remarked, “To make sure that every assaulted gender-based violence will be seen he0re and evaluated.”
On her part, Aruoture emphasized, “We will all join hands together with the government to make sure that victims are promptly taken care of.”
The representative of the Nigerian Police Force, Odih Abigail, and that of the State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Eseoghene Ekpete, pledged their commitment in ensuring the successful operation of the Sexual Assault Referral Center.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the Warri Chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers FIDA, Megbele Ogechi Jessica, noted the non-governmental organization will collaborate with stakeholders in the SARC center to ensure victims get justice and care.
