The USAID Funded Integrated Health Program IHP in collaboration with the Federal and State ministries of Health have commenced a 5-day training of Frontline Health Workers on Gender Based Violence (GBV) care and support in Bauchi state.
The training which draws participants from various ministries who are critical stakeholders in the fight against sexual and gender based violence, is part of the commitment of IHP to support the Bauchi State government in providing effective and efficient health care services delivery.
In his welcome remarks, State Technical Director USAID IHP Dr. Ibrahim Kabo said IHP has been supporting the government of Bauchi to reduce deads and disabilities, mortality and morbidity among particularly women of reproductive age and children under five.
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| DR. IBRAHIM KABO State Technical Director USAID IHP |
Dr. Kabo said, "IHP is supporting Bauchi State with huge efforts the state is doing in enhancing and increasing the quality and access of services in the state in many areas; in the area of maternal health, new born health, child health, family planning and reproductive health malaria and nutrition."
He said, "one of the most critical or crosscutting component is gender; gender based violence or mainstreaming genger in all activities in the state. Bauchi is doing a lot in ensuring that women and men alike are giving kind of due respect in terms of day-to-day activities."
He added that considering the fact that gender based violence is now gaining attention, which before it was neglected, which is why IHP is deeply concerned about providing response to the survivors of GBV.
Dr. Kabo therefore said, "this particular training is to build a cohort of master trainers trained by the federal ministry of health that are going to be certified to become trainers so they can train in Bauchi, and anywhere in Nigeria."
"It would meant that Bauchi State will have these trainers which no any other state in Nigeria have this kind of cohorts of trainers," he said.
He said after the training, "these competent providers (trainers), are going to cascade the training in health facilities, so that those providers in the facilities will have competency to identify, diagnose, manage as appropriate and to link to other support groups including legal practitioners that can pursue prosecution of those perpetrators."
He therefore thanked the state government for support and cooperation to enhance and improve quality of services for women, children and men in Bauchi state.
He however reiterated the commitment of IHP and other partners that are working in the sphere of Gender Based Violence in the state, that they are going to work and invest a lot to ensure that this is a success.
The Federal Ministry of Health
The federal ministry of health deems it necessary to provide support to the survivors of Gender Based Violence especially the medical aspect of it.
Thus giving training to the Frontline Health Workers can go a long way in supporting the survivors, as put forward by Mrs Judith Ononose, Deputy Director from the Federal Ministry of Health.
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| MRS JUDITH ONONOSE Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Health |
According to her, "the Ministry is always willing to build the capacity of Frontline Health Workers. We have done the same thing in Kebbi, we have done in Sokoto and now we are in Bauchi."
"I want to plead to everyone to take this training seriously. Is for the good of our women and girls," she said.
She also appreciates the Bauchi State Ministry of Health and that of Women Affairs for working together for fight against GBV.
"They have a crucial roles to play, because when it comes to rehabilitation, they are the ones that supposed to do it. Federal Ministry of Health we do the medical aspect," she said.
The State Ministry of Health
The Bauchi State ministry of health on their part, has been working round the clock in providing a sustainable health care service delivery.
The state according to Zuwaira Baba, Gender Desk Officer of the state Ministry of Health, is lucky to have multiple stakeholders that have invested huge resources particularly in the health sector.
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| ZUWAIRA BABA Gender Desk Officer Bauchi State Ministry of Health |
Hajiya Zuwaira said, "the issue of Gender Based Violence is domicile with ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Health is giving their support on the health aspect, but we are having full collaboration towards ensuring that this menace is put to an end."
She added that, "IHP has been there to support us right from capacity building, provision of equipments in various aspects not only Gender Based Violence."
She therefore commended IHP for this and many other efforts which she said go in line with the prioritization of the present administration unde governor Bala Muhammad.
Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency
Most of the cases of gender based violence are first brought to the primary health care facilities for urgent attention to be taken.
The Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency on their placed emphasis on addressing GBV from the facility, to the community down to the household.
Hajiya Jamila Aliyu, who represents the Executive Chairman of the Agency, said they are doing all they can to provide the health care givers with the necessary knowledge of how to handle survivors of GBV.
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| HAJIYA JAMILA ALIYU Representing EC BSPHCDA |
She said, "I want to thank IHP for organizing this training that is very essential and also I want to talk to the participants. This is a TOT Training which basically a competency based, that you need to perform before you become the Master Trainer."
"You need to have a kind of commitment and ensure that active participation and then ensure that during the training, whatever you don't understand, ask for clarification from the facilitators," she added.
She however thanked the federal ministry of health and IHP for organizing this training.
Earlier, wife of the Bauchi State governor who was represented by the State Commissioner Ministry of Cooperative and SMEs Hajiya Sa'adatu Bello, reiterated the commitment of the state government to partner with IHP as well as other development partners and relevant stakeholders towards ensuring the successes in the fight against GBV.
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