As part of the Jigawa State government efforts to ensure justice for victims of rape and speedy trials of the perpetrators, governor Muhammad Abubakar Badaru of the state has promised to established more Sexual Assaults Referral Centres (SARC) to speed up rape cases in the state.
The governor made the promise yesterday in his speech at a Public Policy Dialogue on health, organised by the Jigawa Human Capital Development Initiative (JG-HCD) supported by PERL, a non-governmental organization held at manpower development institute, Dutse, Jigawa State capital, said governmentment is committed to the security and welfare of the people.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Umar Namadi made the promise after a verbal complaint by the leader of the rural women health support initiative, Hajiya Fatima Kaila, who spoke at the policy dialogue said ‘the state has only one center in the state capital and it is not enough.”
Hajiya Fatima Kaila decried rampant cases of rape and children molestation for both male and female children in the state.
She noted that “there is need to have more centers across the state considering the increase and rampant cases of rape and children molestation in both rural and urban areas across the 27 local government areas of the state.”
“Your Excellency, if there is any case in Gwiwa or Birniwa, the victim must be taken to the state capital, a distance of over 200 kilometers. So also, the parents are responsible for transport and all expenses. It is really too much on them especially those with trauma and pain.”
Hajiya Kaila suggested that SARC should be established in each of the three senatorial district if not in each of the five Emirates.
The governor who expressed concern on the situation on how to handle PHC’s human resources particularly in some local government said, state government must intervene and resolve the problems.
While speaking on Health Insurance, the governor disclosed that government will not tolerate out of stock of drugs in any health facility or poor service to all beneficiaries in the health insurance scheme.
He directed the ministry of health to give proper supervision and effective monitoring.
“The ministry will take a disciplinary on any facility or person found wanting,” he said.
According to him, the state government may consider the amendment of Jigawa State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency’s law to cover issues of equity fund as it is not reflected in the law.
He then commended the civil society organisations particularly JG-HCD platform for organizing the dialogue, adding that it will help government to know it’s lapses for correction and where government done right to do more.
While making his remarks, the convener of the dialogue, comrade Isah Mustapha said, the dialogue aimed at strengthening government engagements for better delivery of Basic Healthcare Services in the state.
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