The First Lady of Gombe State, Hajiya Asma’u Yahaya, on Tuesday sensitised Yalmatu-Deba Local Government Area on the challenges of gender-based violence.
Yahaya who was represented at the sensitisation by Gombe State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Asma’u Iganus, called for an end to violence against women and girls.
Our correspondent reports that the sensitisation was in commemoration of 16 days of activism with the theme Unite! To end violence against women and girls.
The campaign commenced since November 25 at Pantami Township Stadium and would round off on December 10 Human Rights Day.
Speaking at the Yalmatu-Deba LGA secretariat, Yahaya harped the need for concerted efforts, saying “Gombe is in red and we can’t continue like this. We must all unite to end this menace.”
On the reason for the delegation’s visit, Yahaya, disclosed that they have toured Kwami, Balanga, Akko following the importance attached to it.
“We are here because of the importance and the need to end this menace. We want the local government areas to support in curbing GBV in the state. Alot of such activities happen in the communities, we want as many persons affected to speak out,” she added.
Welcoming the delegation, Wife of Yalmatu-Deba LGA chairman Hajara Ahmed, assured Yahaya that she will collaborate with stakeholders to curb violence.
Ahmed urged victims to speak and not suffer in silence.
On her part, Sarkinatu Abubakar, Wife of Commissioner of Health, who spoke on behalf of wives of political appointees said, “Victims should seek support, they should not feel shy about what had happened.”
Speaking earlier, Hadisa Usman, PHC Coordinator Yalmatu-Deba, decried the challenge of silence among victims.
Usman said, “Normally, we don’t get this cases because most of the victims don’t report and when they do, they report at the centre. Parents are ashamed of saying it.”
Head of Strategic Information, Gombe State Agency for the Control of AIDS Mahmud Elnafaty, harped on the importance of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS, “Men should allow their wives to go for antenatal. It’s through ANC that pregnant mothers are tested for HIV and other sexual transmitted diseases. Till this moment we are still battling the problem of husbands not allowing their wives to go to antenatal, if we discover a positive mother we can place her on drugs, the baby will be delivered with care and will be born free from HIV,” he said.
Elnafaty bemoaned the interference of family members in the combat against GBV, saying “It’s becoming rampant. We have zero tolerance for we want this case to go far or be made public.”
Meanwhile, Yahaya led by Vice Chairman of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities Bala Jibrin, visited the Rakama Disable Group skill acquisition centre located at the LGA secretariat.
Reacting to the request by Jibrin for government’s support to equip the centre with equipment, materials, the First Lady assured that upon the assent of disability bill and formation of commission, development partners would give the group the needed support.
