The Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Human Services has tasked the traditional, religious, women, and youth leaders across the 3 senatorial zones of the State to ensure the elimination of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), Sexual Harassment (SH) and Gender-Based Violence.
This message was, on Thursday, March 28, 2024, conveyed to the group at a step-down meeting held in Ado-Ekiti. The essence of the step-down meeting is to “Implement the activities in the SEA/SH Action Plan” for the Gender Pillar on the COVID-19 Preparedness Project’s (COPREP) Incident Action Plan.
Mrs. Bosede Alowooye, the State Project Coordinator (COPREP), in her welcome address, noted that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a passel of issues which include scourging cases of gender-based violence in the nation. She went further to reveal that as much as the development objective of the COPREP is to prevent, protect, detect, and respond to threats posed by COVID-19 in Ekiti State, the project still takes into consideration the importance of eliminating issues relating to gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment.
“That’s why we have strategically selected you from your senatorial zones to represent the State at your various communities by influencing the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence in Ekiti State,” Alowooye said.
Director of Public Health, Dr Ibrahim Abayomi, in his remarks also echoed the Project Coordinator’s message to the participants. He noted that GBV is a public health issue with effects leading to sexual/reproductive health problems, mental health problems, and even death.
Mr. Tayo Fasuan, SouthWest Technical Advisor (COPREP), remarked that across the nation, Ekiti is highly regarded by the National body. He encouraged the group leaders to mobilise community support for the prevention of GBV to continue to put the State at the top.
At this meeting, participants were put through on objectives of the meeting, meaning and types of gender-based violence by the Gender Pillar Lead of the Ekiti State COPREP project, Mr Tolu Ogunniyi, while Barrister Rita Ilebare facilitated the law and punishments for GBV in Ekiti State.
Mr Nelson Akerele, program manager at the Balm-in-Gilead Foundation (BiGiF) and Gender consultant for the COPREP project, facilitated the session on Action Plan Step down. He took the groups through the objectives of the plan; promoting public awareness, mobilise community support for the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse in the State, etc.
After a participatory meeting, group leaders acknowledged the importance of eliminating gender-based violence in Ekiti with assurances that they would diligently orchestrate the objectives of the action plan by mobilising community support for the prevention of SEA and SH.
