CEHRD COLLABORATES WITH POLICE AND HEALTH WORKERS IN ELEME TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE FOR A 12-YEAR-OLD VICTIM OF DEFILMENT

– Egbilika Josiah

One good reason of creating synergy is to expedite actions with little or no cost implications. On Saturday which normally was not a working day, CEHRD’s Advocacy Officer received a call from Police Area Command, Eleme.

Hello the call went on… I will need your help to assist in providing medical care for a 12-year-old girl who was defiled by an adult male. The situation is serious and the mother of the girl do not have any money.

Okay, CEHRD’s advocacy officer replied, let me put a call across to the Medical Officer, Health in Eleme. On hearing the case, Dr. Tonye Lawson-Jack didn’t waste time to respond. “Tell them to go to the Health Center in Akpajo, I will contact a nurse who will examine the girl”.

Few hours later, the girl was provided with medical care and examination reveals that she has been molested for long, it was not the first time such incident has occurred.

Right now, with the help of the Police Area Command, Eleme and Federation of Female Lawyers (#FIDA), the case has been transferred to the State CID, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The collaboration was made possible through the training of #riversstatevapplaw enforcement institutions (Service Providers) in Eleme LGA organized by CEHRD with support from #EuropeanUnion.

Defilement is a case against the state. The consent of the parents are not needed to prosecute cases of defilement.

#CEHRD wishes to appreciate Health workers in Akpajo Health Center, Medical Officer-Health in Eleme, Police Area Command-Eleme and #FIDA for their timely efforts in the fight against #GBV.

#CEHRD is glad to know that its project: “Enhancing Prevention and Response to Gender Based Violence in Rivers State” is affecting lives positively. #CEHRD appreciates #EuropeanUnion for the support.