Stakeholders on Saturday called on the Taraba government to establish sexual assault response centres (SARCs) in the state’s three senatorial districts to improve access to care for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

The call was made at the end of a three-day policy review and validation workshop organised by the Life Spring Development Foundation (LSDF) in collaboration with the Taraba Ministry of Health in Jalingo.

The participants included representatives of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), civil society organisations (CSOs), the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), security agencies, the media, and health professionals.

The stakeholders expressed concern over the rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence in the state.

They said many survivors were unable to access timely medical care, psychosocial support, legal services, and justice because there were no dedicated sexual assault response centres.

According to them, establishing the centres in the three senatorial districts would provide survivors with immediate medical treatment, counselling, forensic examination, and legal support in a safe environment.

They added that the centres would also improve coordination among healthcare workers, security agencies, legal practitioners, and social welfare officers in responding to SGBV cases.

Speaking at the workshop, the country director of the Life Spring Development Foundation, David Ebodaghe, represented by Mark Ojukwu, said the meeting reviewed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and the Safe Termination of Pregnancy (STOP) Guidelines.

He described the documents as critical to strengthening comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare services.

Mr Ebodaghe said, “Gender-based violence remains a serious concern in Taraba. There is an urgent need to rehabilitate the sexual assault centre previously established at the State Specialist Hospital.”

He said the intervention was supported by the federal government through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office of the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, state governments, and development partners.

Also speaking, the executive secretary of the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Nuhu Tukura, commended Governor Agbu Kefas for the reforms in the state’s health sector.

Mr Tukura expressed confidence that the government would establish a new sexual assault response centre to provide comprehensive support for survivors.

The commissioner for health, Bondiya Buma, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to reducing maternal mortality and strengthening reproductive healthcare through evidence-based policies.

The workshop was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen policies and institutional frameworks to tackle sexual and gender-based violence and improve reproductive health outcomes in Taraba.

(NAN)