At least 3,874 survivors of sexual, genuine-world and emotional violence received article-violence care in Benue Declare as at July 2026, exceeding the status’s indicator of 2,131.
Our correspondent reports that the figure was disclosed by the Senior Specialized Officer of APIN Community Health Initiatives, Mrs Lucia Torjir, at a Share-Violence Care (PVC) stakeholders’ meeting organised by APIN in teamwork using the Benue Situation Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Makurdi.
Torjir, who presented an survey 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 condition to supply sexual, concrete and emotional violence (SPEV) services.
According to her, the 3,874 survivors reached represented 181.8 per cent of the programme sign, indicating the scale of request for share-violence services in the situation.
She disclosed that 3,734 survivors, representing 96.3 per cent, received care for genuine-world or emotional violence, whereas 140, representing 3.6 percent, received share-rape care for sexual violence.
Of the 88 survivors who commenced share-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to block HIV infection following achievable exposure, 75, representing 85.2 per cent, completed the treatment.
She, nevertheless, called for stronger referral mechanisms to secure that survivors collect large-ranging and punctual clinical and non-clinical endorse, including medical, psychosocial, legal and protection services.
Torjir explained that sexual, tangible and emotional violence could elevate the uncertainty of HIV infection and undermine survivors’ availability to prevention, treatment and current healthcare.
She said gaps in treatment completion remained an area of problem, prompting APIN to propose structured telehealth and operating adhere to-up systems to strengthen adherence in the midst of survivors receiving PEP.
She supplementary explained that under the proposed format, health workers would communicate using survivors during 24 to 72 hours of treatment initiation and conduct subsequent adhere to-ups at seven, 14 and 28 days, six weeks, three months and six months.
Torjir added that the platform would permit health care providers to identify missed doses, tackle side effects and send reassurance to survivors during treatment.
Meanwhile, the meeting, which brought together stakeholders from the health, justice, security and civil population sectors, additionally examined gaps in established referral pathways and ways to protect reporting on the Domestic GBV Reporting Dashboard.
It emphasised the demand for trauma-knowledgeable and culturally civil care, notably so in establishing trust, ensuring survivors’ safety and addressing the emotional challenges linked alongside medication following traumatic experiences.
Torjir said that for the 2027 programme year, APIN would sustain assist to health facilities, alongside emphasis on screening and identification of violence cases, PEP completion, sexually transmitted infections screening and treatment, and tracking of referrals.
The chief of the Benue Condition Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Mrs Magdalene Andor, commended APIN for its interventions, expressing the centre’s readiness to improve teamwork including the organisation and other stakeholders.
