The Gender Technical Lead of APIN Public Health Initiatives, Nigeria, Mrs Bola Thompson said the Organisation supported 10,321 survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in 2024 alone.
Thompson disclosed this on Thursday at a media round table organized by the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) in Abuja.
She stated, “in 2024, we were able to support 10,321 people in all the five states where we implement on Gender Based Violence (GBV), post GBV responses ranging from provision of first life support, minimum package, referral for police, shelter, economic empowerment and treatment for injuries, screening for hepatitis, HIV and other services.
“Out of this number, 651 people have experienced sexual violence and they all received full comprehensive GBV response”.
Thompson, who highlighted APIN’s role in the ongoing 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence encouraged survivors of GBV to speak out:
“We should do more by listening to survivors and encouraging them to speak out.
“We should do more to talk about the issue of stigma, adding that stigma was preventing many people from speaking out
“As APIN, we are still making our commitment known to the whole world that our drive and fight against all forms of gender based violence is an ongoing thing and the management is committed to work towards the declaration to see the end of gender based violence by 2030”, she said.
In her presentation titled, “Improving Response to Gender- Based Violence through Community Interventions and Approaches”, Gender Program Specialist, U.S. CDC Nigeria, Bukola Adewumi affirmed that the U.S. CDC aim to reduce HIV transmission rates, enhance care and support for GBV survivors and foster safer, more equitable communities.
“Recognizing the disproportionate impact of HIV and GBV on women and girls, we implemented targeted strategies that address these connected issues”, Adewumi said. She informed that the comprehensive approach includes community -based interventions to transform harmful social norms.
She listed the evidenced based community approaches to include , “no means no intervention”, “family matters” and 16 days of activism campaigns.
She disclosed that under these programs, adolescent girls were trained on the use of empowerment self -defense skills. According to her, the program certified 200 instructors in Nigeria and these instructors reached 78599 adolescents.
The Gender Program Specialist further stated that the number of individuals reached with GBV Response Services from rose from 2,673 in 2018 to 5,452 in 2024 for those who experienced sexual violence. While those who experienced physical and/or emotional violence rose from 23,494 in 2018 to 40725 in 2024.
GBV survivor, Ms Titilope Omishina narrated how APIN came to her rescue at a time she was hopeless and on the verge of taking her life:
“A friend advised me to reach out to APIN Public Health Initiative an NGO working to promote health and human rights in Nigeria, and that decision changed my life,” she said.
She said that APIN provided her with medical care, counselling, economic empowerment, access to antiretroviral treatment, rent and capital to start a business.
“I became a mentor and role model for HIV-positive women,” she said.
