Abakaliki – Some 1,000 persons have been trained on how to respond adequately to Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Ebonyi state.
They were trained by the United States Agency for International Development Momentum Country and Global Leadership (USAID-MCGL).
The Team Lead of the project in the state, Mrs Nneka Chijioke-Dikeocha, made this known on Wednesday, during a stakeholders’ meeting to mark the end of the project in the state.
The meeting is with ,the theme “Consolidation, Sustainability and Ownership.”
According to Chijioke-Dikeocha, MCGL was meant to address major contributors to maternal mortality and morbidity by preventing and mitigating the consequences of violence against women and girls (VAW/G).
She added that the project was also designed to tackle possible drivers of child early and forced marriages.
She noted that out of the trained 1,000 persons, 394 were trained by MCGL in collaboration with the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
She stated that others include the agencies on first line response concerning postpartum family planning and adolescent response care.
She further revealed other achievements of the project from its inception in 2021 to include trainings of multi-sectoral taskforce members and key stakeholders on smart advocacy, resource mobilization and child safe guarding approaches.
“Capacity development of local partners, establishment of women savings and loans group, integration of GBV services into routine ANC/FP services through a study in 20 selected MCGL supported sites, among others, were also treated.
“The collaboration with the ministry and other development partners was to facilitate cross learning between Ebonyi and Sokoto state and provide support for the refurbishment,” she added.
The wife of the Governor, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, through her foundation, Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons (BERWO), applauded the organisation for changing the narrative, where GBV was viewed as part of the people’s culture.
Nwifuru, represented by Mrs Nkechi Echiegu, team leader, BERWO, disclosed that the foundation is currently using the trained members of the multi-sectoral taskforce across all the council areas for sustainability of the project in the state.
According to Nwifuru, “Concerning maternal mortality and new born issues, I have taken it upon myself to enroll 4,076 women into Healthcare Insurance Scheme to enable them access free ante-natal and free child birth programme.
“And the scheme is reducing child mortality, I equally enrolled children between zero and 5 years old, and all this are reducing infant mortality in the state, I commend the organisation for establishing the community structure aimed at enhancing the objective of MCGL” she added.
She also disclosed that her foundation plans to build a standard GBV center with rehabilitation section in the state before the next three years.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Felicia Nwankpuma, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Joy Mbam, described the project from USAID as transformative with profound impacts on the lives of many women and children.
“Over the past four years, USAID-MCGL has demonstrated exceptional commitment, expertise and support. Together, we have launched and implemented numerous initiatives that have advanced gender equality strengthened responses to GBV and empowered our communities,” she explained.
She also said that the trainings for civil society organisations and service providers had improved the data reportage and response capabilities of the ministry.
Nwankpuma said the upgrading of the GBV situation room and equipping the shelter home for the survivors are clear testament for their shared dedication in creating safe and more supportive environments.
She said that the essence of the meeting was to strategize for the consolidation of the gains already achieved, ensure longevity of the initiatives and foster sense of ownership among the stakeholders.
The Commissioner for Grants and Donor Agencies, Mr Solomon Azi, acknowledged the impact made on lives by training over 1,000 on GBV.
“Equipped women with temporary shelters for GBV survivors and reinforced the culture by making men to know they are bound to support their wives in all the stages of pregnancies.
“MCGL has enhanced our youths mostly girl child with adequate information on post-partum family planning counseling,” Azi said.
