Each birth must be regarded as a defining moment — Dr Kemi Da Silva-Ibru

Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru is a specialist Obstetrician and Gynecologist with a medical background that extends to Public Health from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, US. The founder of the Women At Risk International Foundation (WARIF), a non-profit organisation, in this interview by TAYO GESINDE, speaks on what young girls need to do to prevent rape and other health issues.

As a qualified specialist, I have been in private practice in Lagos for over 10 years, where I have dedicated a lot of my time working closely with non-government organisations and related agencies in addressing the prevailing issues of gender based violence, sexual violence and rape of our young girls by offering free medical support and counselling. I have witnessed firsthand the harrowing effects of this problem on these young girls and women and their communities. These effects are both immediate with health and psychosocial risks as well as long-term societal problems that subsequently occur such as increased illiteracy and lack of adequate education for the girl-child and an increase in the prevalence of new cases of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Challenges faced

The stigmatisation and the shroud of silence that surround cases of sexual violence and rape in our communities often times make it difficult for the young girls and women to seek help. She is made to feel guilty and ashamed of this abuse and is reluctant to visit centres like WARIF to get the necessary medical and psychosocial care needed.

Funding is also a huge challenge and one we are constantly seeking. Being a Non-Government Organisation, all our services and initiatives are offered at no cost to the survivors we assist and we rely solely on donor funding from corporate bodies, private organisations and the goodwill of private individuals.

Most defining moment of career

I have been blessed with many defining moments in my career as I have been given the privilege over the last 15 years of bringing new life into the world; and with life being so precious, each birth must be regarded as a defining moment; however, being able to establish the WARIF Foundation and address and assist with the issue of gender based violence against young girls and women in our society is certainly a very special defining and worthwhile cause.

On the issue of funding

The WARIF Foundation is a non-profit organisation which relies solely on donations from organisations, corporate bodies and individuals who have been very helpful. Some of the pilot initiatives implemented were self-funded and more recently we have also been the recipients of a grant from a non- government organisation.

How WARIF has been tackling gender based violence

We have the  WARIF Centre, Yaba, Lagos State, a fully operational sexual assault referral centre which opens six days a week and offers medical care and forensic medical examinations by trained medical staff; counselling with qualified counsellors as well as addressing the social welfare needs of survivors such as shelters and accommodation, legal aid and vocational skills acquisition. The services provided are free to all women in need; in a warm secure environment, where confidentiality and safety is assured by experienced and friendly staff. We also offer a 24 hour confidential help line available. This service is operated by qualified staff and available 24 hours; seven days a week, who are trained to meet the needs of survivors over the telephone. Calls may come from those who prefer the anonymity of calling in for help or who are unable to reach the centre.

There is also the WARIF Educational School Programme (WESP), a preventive initiative carried out in selected government secondary schools; to establish the prevalence cases of sexual abuse and violence among adolescent school children in our communities and to identify and address the existing patterns of behaviour of the adolescent boy and girl child between the ages of 13 and 16 years. With the introduction of the WESP curriculum, an increased awareness, knowledge and a change in adverse behavioural patterns was achieved through this intervention.

Also, we have the WARIF Gate Keepers Project which seeks to train and equip 550 traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in urban and per-rural areas with the necessary skills and provide the tools to identify and render first wave treatment and psycho-social counselling to women who exhibit signs of and are affected by gender based violence in their communities. In addition, these TBAs also offer the services of the WARIF centre to these affected women for further treatment andcounselling.

Finally, our strong advocacy campaigns have been promoted by the Foundation on social media platforms and in local communities placing a spot light on the issue of gender based violence and encouraging survivors to become empowered and speak out against the abuse.

 Factors responsible for high prevalence of violence against girls and women

Traditionally in Nigeria, women are placed in the stereotypical role of being seen as subordinate to men and this inequality is often times encouraged by our cultural norms and practices. In our society, the scenario that exists of a typical household is where women are seen as inferior and as a result of being subjugated by their husbands, fathers and other male relatives, they are made to feel powerless and are hindered in their ability to make the right choices in preventing various forms of abuse from occurring to themselves and their children or carry out the actions needed to end the abuse.

Another contributing factor is our society’s attitude towards survivors of rape and sexual violence. Women affected are not encouraged nor are they empowered to speak out about the atrocities they have had to endure. They are made to feel ashamed and guilty. More often than not, we ‘victim blame’ by questioning their role in the act instead of addressing the crime for what it is. This perpetuates the shroud of silence that persists and is associated with these acts and encourages the prevalence in our society.

 Role of government, society and parents in eliminating sexual violence

Everyone has a role to play in eliminating sexual violence. This is not just a woman’s issue, but it is everyone’s issue. It does not concern only regulated government agencies and non-government organisations but all organisations. This extends to families and individuals. To parents’/family members: Let your loved ones know that you believe them, that it is not their fault and that you support them fully. Encourage them to seek assistance if they are willing and able at centres such as the WARIF Centre and then report the crime to law enforcement agencies. Existing regulatory bodies should devote support and resources to prevention and community engagement efforts.

Education, especially of the girl-child and women’s empowerment are also key elements in ensuring a woman’s rights are addressed and ensured.

Advice to young girls

We spend a lot of time discussing what young girls need to do to protect themselves and in some certain fractions of the communities some may go as far as to‘ victim blame’ and make claims about the clothing of the young woman, or the poor choices she makes as being the reason for her assault. I do agree that women as with all members of any society regardless of gender need to be mindful of the environment they are in and the company they keep to protect themselves against violence and assault but we need to start changing the narrative; I believe more time should be spent addressing the perpetrator as the guilty party and the crimes committed by him or her. It is not for the survivor to protect herself better but for the perpetrator of the abuse to be made accountable and persecuted for the crimes against her.

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