The APIN Public Health Initiatives in Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, has reiterated its determination to ensure the sustenance of activism against Gender Based Violence in the society for the good of all.
The resolve was expressed recently during its 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence held in some communities in Oyo State between November 25 and December 10, the Human Rights Day.
During the exercise, the need for the society to speak up against rape, stigmatization and sundry other social ills was emphasized.
According to Dr Folake Adurogbola, Technical Advisor and Senior Technical Lead for APIN in Oyo State, as the programme for activism against gender-based social ills ends December 10, there must be sustained efforts to kick against stigmatization in the society for desired change to happen.
Adurogbola said that “As we draw the curtain, it is not enough to go to sleep, we must sustain the efforts by taking actions in the next 365 days to challenge, speak up, support survivors to be treated, make them comfortable to tell their stories and ensure justices.
“We must reinforce our efforts in tackling the hydra-headed monster that daily cripples our society and deprives our women and girls and even our boys from contributing their quota to nation building. The pain of one woman or a child is the pain of every Nigerian.
“Our advocacy must reach schools, churches, mosque and all government agencies and law enforcement agencies. It is our battle and we all must rise.
“Parents must determine to parent positively, perpetrators of violence come from homes, and if parents can instil disciples and virtues in their wards, our society will be free of monsters.”
Bola Thompson, the Prevention and Community Lead, Oyo Region, APIN Public Health Initiatives, added that “This is not the time to look elsewhere; this is time for action. If you see something say something and do something!”
APIN, during the 2021 World AIDS Day titled, ‘End the inequality, end AIDS and end pandemic,’ visited offices of the Oyo State State Agencies for the Control of AIDS and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The organisation also preached against misconception that those who were positive with HIV had it as a result promiscuity.
Adurogbola said, “There are so many myths and misconceptions about HIV. Some people believe that HIV has to do with promiscuity while many hold the notion that one can contract it by being bewitched. We should not encourage the wrong notion.”
Present at the events 16-day activities are representatives of the Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs, Oyo Ministry of Health, SACA, Gender POCs from UCH, Adeoyo, all Community Responders and APIN Public Health Initiatives Gender Team.
