US CDC and APIN Call for Collective Action Against Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in partnership with APIN Public Health Initiatives, has called for a united front to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and support survivors. This appeal was made during a media roundtable on GBV held in Abuja.

Dr. Jerry Gwamna, Deputy Director for Programmes at U.S. CDC Nigeria, highlighted the detrimental effects of GBV on individuals’ physical, mental, and social well-being. Represented by Victor Adamu, Team Lead for Community and Gender at U.S. CDC Nigeria, Dr. Gwamna stated, “Gender-based violence, in whatever form—psychological, emotional, physical, or economic—has deleterious effects on the complete health of survivors.”

He emphasized the CDC’s commitment to preventing GBV and alleviating its impact through strategic collaborations. “We work to either alleviate the issues that survivors have passed through or to prevent such GBV cases from happening at all,” he explained.

Bola Thompson, Gender Technical Lead at APIN Public Health Initiatives, urged survivors to speak out and reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to combating GBV. “We should do more by encouraging survivors of GBV to speak out,” Thompson said.

Bukola Adewumi, Gender and GBV Programme Specialist at U.S. CDC, underscored the importance of accessible and quality health services for all, regardless of sex, gender, socioeconomic status, or cultural background. She detailed a comprehensive approach that includes community-based interventions aimed at transforming harmful social norms and equipping individuals with essential skills to manage their health and well-being.

Adewumi also highlighted the integration of GBV screening into all health services to ensure that no survivor is overlooked. “We find those who need services and we do this by ensuring that everyone, regardless of whatever health service they come to access at the facility, is screened for GBV,” she noted.

This collaborative effort between the U.S. CDC and APIN Public Health Initiatives signifies a significant step toward addressing and mitigating the impact of gender-based violence in Nigeria.