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Stakeholders from Ogoni Communities have tasked lawmakers at state and local government levels to make laws that will stipulate stiffer penalty for rapists.
They make the remark at a one-day training program on Access to Sexual Reproductive Health and Right through direct-contact awareness organized by Pius Dukor Foundation for Community Development and Advancement at Suanu Filimale Hall, Bori.
In his opening’ remark the President of Pius Dukor Foundation for Community Development and Advancement, Comrade Pius Dukor, maintained that the training on access to sexual reproductive health and right is thought provoking and all-encompassing, adding that this will make community people take informed decisions and choices on their health.
He said that community people have the right to know their health status to determine their well-being so that they can tackle their ill-health on time. On reproductive health, he noted that the benefit is very enormous which also address the issue of family planning and the need for pregnant women to go antenatal so that they can have a healthy delivery.
Dukor further stated that the objective of the training is to increase the knowledge of community people on sexual reproductive health and right, while tasking the Rivers Sate House of Assembly to make laws that will punish rapists, especially those who rape children.
He noted that the presence of chiefs, clergymen, students and persons with disability shows that they take their health serious, while expressing thanks to TrustAfrica through which the project funding was made possible.
On her part, the resource person, Dr. Maureen Maduawu, said that those who are sick in the community should endeavor to visit hospitals and health centres, rather than patronizing fake doctors. She noted that the “intention of government is to make health care free, even if we are not there yet,” adding that the traditional birth attendance in the communities must be trained to save the lives of women.
One of the participants, Comrade Ana-Gua Nadan, the youth president of Nortem –Bori, tasked traditional rulers to make strong laws at community level, while advising the Khana Legislative Assembly to enact laws that will stipulate stiffer penalty for rapist.
Chief Wifa Anthony used the event to urge governments at all levels to maintain health centers, hospitals and equip them with drugs and personnel to make them functional.
In her goodwill message, the vice chairman of Khana LGA, Dr. Leton Ikoro, representative of council chairman, Barr. Lateh Lolo commended Pius Dukor Foundation and TrustAfrica for bringing the training to Khana to educate community people on their sexual reproductive health and right, while promising that they will collaborate with the foundation to carry the message to each community in Khana.
Dr. Leton, who is also the supervisory councilor for health, expressed satisfaction with the quality of the trainers at the event, adding that the council will support any law that will punish those who rape women, especially minors in the area, while warning parents to monitor their girl-child.
Also speaking, the coordinator of Primary Health Care Services in Khana LGA Dr. Christian Kina, who spoke through a representative, tasked community people to seek medical attention at the healthcare centres and hospital rather than depending only on spiritual healing.
Dr. Kina expressed shock that most people still depend on self-help in medical issues in communities while abandoning the various health centers provided by government.
Our reporter added that the consultant on the project, Dr. Francis Nabie, trained participants on access to reproductive health and right, through direct contact awareness.
