By Amos Aar
BENUE State Government is working towards revitalising the Sexual Assault Referral Center (SARC) located at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital for improved Gender-Based Violence (GBV) interventions.
Coordinator of SARC, Mrs Linda Dirusu, made this known while addressing participants at a 3-day interaction organised to strengthen the referral pathways for GBV survivors, mental and health psychosocial services, and children protection, organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs with support from International Organization for Migration (IOM), held at Benue Metropolitan Hotel, Makurdi.
Mrs. Dirusu, who lamented that though SARC had become moribund and required extra effort to put it back on track, said the state government had taken over the project owing to increasing number of untreated gender-based violence cases, which if not handled properly, could translate to negative energy and further downgrade the society.
The SARC coordinator further explained that the centre will render free services when it becomes fully functional and called for collaboration from relevant stakeholders, saying the fight against GBV in the state would achieve better outcome if tackled collectively.
Responding, Executive Director, Elohim Development Foundation, Dr Victoria Daaor, stressed the need for the SARC to cement ties with civil society organisations for sustainability and advocated training for those men in various positions in order to provide the necessary support other than jeopardise the situation.
The SARC is meant to provide a safe space and dedicated care for victims of rape, sexual assault or abuse.
