Kwara stakeholders ask media to report abuse without exposing victims

Health and development stakeholders in Kwara State have urged journalists to expose rights abuses, gender-based violence, discrimination and stigma while protecting the dignity and privacy of victims. The appeal was made at a sensitisation meeting on stigma, rights abuse, gender-based violence and discrimination organised under the Advancing Integrated Health Services Delivery for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Communicable Diseases project. The Kwara State Ministry of Health disclosed the meeting in a statement issued by its press secretary, Saad Hamdalat.

Stephen Akinyele, executive director of the Hope for Family Development Initiative, said journalists and social media influencers should use their platforms to challenge harmful misconceptions and provide accurate, stigma-sensitive information about vulnerable groups. He said HFDI’s intervention had reached 50,000 community members with sexual and reproductive health messages. The organisation had also sensitised 250 community and religious leaders, supported 30 community-led initiatives and held 50 referral coordination meetings, he said.

Akinyele added that 2,470 completed referrals had been facilitated and documented to improve access to sexual and reproductive health and communicable disease services. He said the project was funded by the Global Fund through the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme and implemented by Jhpiego, with HFDI working in Offa, Asa and Moro local government areas. Chioma Oduenyi, Jhpiego’s project director, represented by state team lead Williams Awotunde, said the project integrates sexual and reproductive health services with interventions on HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and sexually transmitted infections.

The approach allows clients to access several services during one visit, reducing time and cost, she said. Jhpiego currently supports 15 primary healthcare centres in the three local government areas through training, mentoring, supervision and monitoring. Stakeholders called for continued cooperation among government, providers, communities, development partners and the media.