A non-governmental organization that advocates the right to health and life, Centre for the Right to Health has concluded community level training on Gender Based Violence in three Centres of Amaraku and Ogbor in Isiala Mbano and Oguta Local Government Areas of Imo State.
The essence of the training according to the Programme Officer of Centre for the Right to Health, Chief Chris Njoku was to build the capacity of community leaders on prevention of gender based violence against women and girls in their various communities.
At Ogbor-Ugiri in Isiala Mbano LGA, Chief Njoku stated that 32 natives drawn from the six autonomous communities of Ugiri clan viz Ogbor, Ibeme, Ugiri-Nna, Umuozu, Obollo and Amaukwu, were trained on Understanding Gender Based Violence against women and girls in the communities and Disability; Understanding GBV Prevention Strategies; Responding to Unique Needs of GBV Survivors; Understanding Advocacy and Strategies of Advocacy; GBV Prevention, Role of Cultural, Religious and Community Leaders in Preventing GBV.
He emphasized that similar topics were treated in the other centres at Amaraku in Isiala Mbano and Oguta in Oguta LGA.
He encouraged the trainees to ensure that GBV on women and girls generally and particularly those meted at women and girls with disabilities are properly handed.
A facilitator, Mrs Chisara Ogbonna of National Orientation Agency expressed the hope that after the training, participants would have garnered enough knowledge of the challenges of persons with disability and should be able to address them headlong.
The traditional ruler of Ogbor Autonomous Community and former Deputy Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Dr. Matthew Oweni lamented the neglect, abandonment and poor attitude of people to those with disability.
He said that persons with disability live in his community and as the traditional ruler, he always supports and takes good care of them.
He commended Centre for the Right to Health for training his community members and promised to set up a committee that would address all GBV issues in his community.
He equally called on governments at all levels to emulate the good example of Centre for the Right to Health on efforts to addressing societal ills.
The Parochial Vicar, St Patrick’s Catholic Parish, Ogbor-Ugiri, Reverend Father Emmanuel Igbokwe said the training had exposed him to GBV and challenges of persons with disability, particularly women and girls.
While calling for stricter penalty for the perpetrators, Reverend Igbokwe promised to further enlighten his congregation become GBV and Disabilities advocates.
Woman President General of Ogbor Autonomous Community, Mrs. Christiana Nwagwu regretted that persons with disability had been denied of education, health and other life necessities due to poor knowledge of their plight.
She promised to mobilize other women in her community and enlighten them on GBV.