The goal, says Osowobi, now 30, is to “actually reduce this spate of sexual violence.” Osowobi says she has seen progress. Nigeria’s minister of women affairs and social development, Pauline K. Tallen, told VOA her office is working closely with other government ministries and agencies to curb sexual violence. “And then the planning for [countering] specifically gendered forms of violence, including child marriage, falls by the wayside.”“So much of the health response is focused on infection prevention and control,” said Grabowski, who recommended dedicating funding and programming early on to combat child marriage and gender-based violence. In Nigeria, STER trains health workers “on sexual violence response: how to address survivors, how to document cases,” Osowobi said. STER also focuses on preventing sexual violence.

Source: Daily Nation October 11, 2020 10:52 UTC