3,874 violence survivors receive care in Benue

At least 3,874 survivors of sexual, physical and emotional violence received post-violence care in Benue State as at July 2026, exceeding the state’s target of 2,131.

Our correspondent reports that the figure was disclosed by the Senior Technical Officer of APIN Public Health Initiatives, Mrs Lucia Torjir, at a Post-Violence Care (PVC) stakeholders’ meeting organised by APIN in collaboration with the Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Makurdi.

Torjir, who presented an overview of the programme’s achievements in the third quarter of the 2026 financial year, said the APIN was supporting 165 of the 264 supported health facilities in the state to provide sexual, physical and emotional violence (SPEV) services.

According to her, the 3,874 survivors reached represented 181.8 per cent of the programme target, indicating the scale of demand for post-violence services in the state.

She disclosed that 3,734 survivors, representing 96.3 per cent, received care for physical or emotional violence, while 140, representing 3.6 percent, received post-rape care for sexual violence.

Of the 88 survivors who commenced post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent HIV infection following possible exposure, 75, representing 85.2 per cent, completed the treatment.

She, however, called for stronger referral mechanisms to ensure that survivors receive comprehensive and timely clinical and non-clinical support, including medical, psychosocial, legal and protection services.

Torjir explained that sexual, physical and emotional violence could increase the risk of HIV infection and undermine survivors’ access to prevention, treatment and continuous healthcare.

She said gaps in treatment completion remained an area of concern, prompting APIN to propose structured telehealth and active follow-up systems to improve adherence among survivors receiving PEP.

She further explained that under the proposed arrangement, health workers would contact survivors within 24 to 72 hours of treatment initiation and conduct subsequent follow-ups at seven, 14 and 28 days, six weeks, three months and six months.

Torjir added that the system would enable health care providers to identify missed doses, address side effects and provide reassurance to survivors during treatment.

Meanwhile, the meeting, which brought together stakeholders from the health, justice, security and civil society sectors, also examined gaps in existing referral pathways and ways to strengthen reporting on the National GBV Reporting Dashboard.

It emphasised the need for trauma-informed and culturally respectful care, particularly in establishing trust, ensuring survivors’ safety and addressing the emotional challenges associated with medication following traumatic experiences.

Torjir said that for the 2027 programme year, APIN would sustain support to health facilities, with emphasis on screening and identification of violence cases, PEP completion, sexually transmitted infections screening and treatment, and tracking of referrals.

The head of the Benue State Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Mrs Magdalene Andor, commended APIN for its interventions, expressing the centre’s readiness to strengthen collaboration with the organisation and other stakeholders.