Preciouspress

Lockdown : Anambra records 80 rape cases in a month

No fewer than 80 rape cases were recorded in various parts of Anambra State during the COVID-19 lockdown between April and May

The director of child welfare services in the state Ministry of Women's Affairs, Children and Social Welfare, Mrs. Nkechi Anazodo stated on Monday at Isuaniocha in the Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State .

Anazodo, who spoke during the United Nations Children’s Fund supported launch of integrated child protection community sensitization campaign, said there were only 32 cases of rape in her ministry before the lockdown.

She said the upsurge had necessitated the need for the 10- day state-wide campaign in the 21 local government areas of the state.

Other organizations involved in the campaign programme were the National Population Commission and the National Orientation Agency with presidents of the 181 town unions, the churches, traditional institution and the women groups participating.

She said: “Sexual violence has become the order of the day, especially during this period of lockdown. Even old men now rape children of 12 years and below. The problem we have is that people don’t report.
“Last week, a case was brought to us of a 70 year- old man that raped a four-year old child. The case has gone to the police.

“Before the lockdown, we had only 32 cases of rape in the ministry, but the figure recorded within the last few months is over 80. It is unfortunate that some men have left their wives to be having sexual relationship with children less than five years.

“The most worrisome is that some fathers raped their daughters more during the lockdown. In most cases, fathers who rape their daughters threaten to kill them if they report.

"The problem, therefore, is that many people don’t report these cases because they feel that the victim might be stigmatized.
“That is why we are going round the 21 local government areas of the state to create awareness on this problem.”

She said the state government had created ‘task sexual assault centre’ at the Engwu-Ukwu General Hospital purposely for treating rape victims, adding that once any rape victim was brought to the centre, tests would be conducted on the victim because of the possibility that the child might have been infested with sexually transmitted diseases.

She added: “It is advisable that the victim should be taken to this referral hospital within two hours of the rape for effective result. Treatment and counseling of the victim are free and the identity of the victim is usually well protected. Some people are already making use of the facility, but we want more people to be bringing the reports.

“Once we get any case of rape, we use the police to arrest the rapist and do everything within the law to prosecute the person”.

She urged parents, Presidents-General of Town Unions, the clergy, youth organizations, and Non-Governmental Organisations to assist in educating the people on the best way to discourage rape.

Anazodo also explained that the Anambra State Child’s Right implementation committee had been positioned to handle, among other issues, child abuse of any form.

She said the child protection network in the ministry also ensured that if there was issue of torture of any child, “we take it up and ensure that such a person is prosecuted .

Na competition. Seems there is a price to be won

TonyRazor:
Preciouspress

Lockdown : Anambra records 80 rape cases in a month

No fewer than 80 rape cases were recorded in various parts of Anambra State during the COVID-19 lockdown between April and May

The director of child welfare services in the state Ministry of Women's Affairs, Children and Social Welfare, Mrs. Nkechi Anazodo stated on Monday at Isuaniocha in the Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State .

Anazodo, who spoke during the United Nations Children’s Fund supported launch of integrated child protection community sensitization campaign, said there were only 32 cases of rape in her ministry before the lockdown.

She said the upsurge had necessitated the need for the 10- day state-wide campaign in the 21 local government areas of the state.

Other organizations involved in the campaign programme were the National Population Commission and the National Orientation Agency with presidents of the 181 town unions, the churches, traditional institution and the women groups participating.

She said: “Sexual violence has become the order of the day, especially during this period of lockdown. Even old men now rape children of 12 years and below. The problem we have is that people don’t report.
“Last week, a case was brought to us of a 70 year- old man that raped a four-year old child. The case has gone to the police.

“Before the lockdown, we had only 32 cases of rape in the ministry, but the figure recorded within the last few months is over 80. It is unfortunate that some men have left their wives to be having sexual relationship with children less than five years.

“The most worrisome is that some fathers raped their daughters more during the lockdown. In most cases, fathers who rape their daughters threaten to kill them if they report.

"The problem, therefore, is that many people don’t report these cases because they feel that the victim might be stigmatized.
“That is why we are going round the 21 local government areas of the state to create awareness on this problem.”

She said the state government had created ‘task sexual assault centre’ at the Engwu-Ukwu General Hospital purposely for treating rape victims, adding that once any rape victim was brought to the centre, tests would be conducted on the victim because of the possibility that the child might have been infested with sexually transmitted diseases.

She added: “It is advisable that the victim should be taken to this referral hospital within two hours of the rape for effective result. Treatment and counseling of the victim are free and the identity of the victim is usually well protected. Some people are already making use of the facility, but we want more people to be bringing the reports.

“Once we get any case of rape, we use the police to arrest the rapist and do everything within the law to prosecute the person”.

She urged parents, Presidents-General of Town Unions, the clergy, youth organizations, and Non-Governmental Organisations to assist in educating the people on the best way to discourage rape.

Anazodo also explained that the Anambra State Child’s Right implementation committee had been positioned to handle, among other issues, child abuse of any form.

She said the child protection network in the ministry also ensured that if there was issue of torture of any child, “we take it up and ensure that such a person is prosecuted .

Fake news

WHAT!

Fake news

The only problem I have about the world now is, I am confuse.

Wao