…Pledges technical support to strengthen operations
From Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Concerned Women International Development Initiative, CWIDI, has emphasized the need for increased budgetary allocation to the Benue State Sexual Assault Referral Center, SARC, for it to render adequate services to the people particularly the vulnerable category and victims of gender-based violence.
Director of Programmes CWIDI, Mrs. Bridget Okeke, made the call yesterday in Makurdi, during an advocacy visit meant to strengthen collaboration with the centre.
Okeke, represented by CWIDI’s Senior Programme Officer, Becky Gbihi, also revealed that the visit is part of the organization’s ongoing engagement with key stakeholders in the fight against gender based violence, appealing for increased funding from the Benue State Government to enable the centre achieve its mandate.
She disclosed that having discovered a major challenge of funding during one of its meeting with the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SACR, CWIDI decided to swing into action by taking its advocacy to relevant bodies such as the Ministry of Health and Women Affairs, appealing to them to add their voices for Benue State Government to increase budgetary allocation to the centre to strengthen its operations.
Okeke also revealed that CWIDI has equally reached out to its donor partners including the Japan Embassy, to seek support to improve SACR’s infrastructure and operational capacity, expressing optimism that the outcome will be positive.
She commended coordinator of the Centre for her crucial role as a one- stop – shop facility offering medical, legal and psychosocial services to survivors, reiterating CWIDI’s readiness to offer technical support to SACR in preparing or refining project proposals and funding documents to strengthen institutional sustainability.
Okeke on behalf of CWIDI pledged to sustain advocacy for increased government and donor support for SACR’s operations with both organizations, reaffirming shared commitment towards combating GBV in Benue State.
Becky Gbihi, Senior Programme Officer sharing recent experience recalled how CWIDI had facilitated the rescue of a trafficked survivor from Ghana who arrived Benue in a critical health condition, requiring immediate medical attention but lamented that on reaching out to NAPTIP whose duty is to handle such cases, the office was unable to cover the emergency cost for lack of funds, adding that the development prompted CWIDI to step in to provide the needed financial support to ensure the survivors treatment.
She added that such an experience reinforced the organizations commitment to advocate for increased and sustainable funding for response institutions such as SACR and NAPTIP to ensure that survivors receive timely and holistic care without delay.
In her response, Benue State Coordinator, Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SARC, Mrs. Linda Dirisu, commended CWIDI for sustained collaboration with her organization in the fight to eradicate gender based violence in the state.
She described the collaboration as a clear demonstration that the public understand responsibilities of the center and the difficulties encountered in the cause of work, acknowledging funding as a major challenge confronting the centre as the team handles multiple cases daily with limited resources.
The SACR Coordinator who promised to provide relevant documents to enable CWIDI offer technical support in preparing and refining documents for the ministry of Health and Women Affairs where the center has budget lines as requested, stated that her team has resolved and is consulting with SACR offices across the state’s to under study the budget process from those ministries.
The reason according to Mrs Dirisu is to avoid shooting itself in the foot when an opportunity to present documents for budget increment is presented by the state government, and requested CWIDI’s technical assistance in drafting and refining the document.
