One year after the inauguration of the Deborah House, (a Sexual Assault Referral Centre) in Owerri, capital of Imo State by the First Lady, Barr Chioma Uzodimma, frontline responders are yet to breathe a sigh of relief.
The Deborah House was intended be a one-stop project that prioritises the needs and rights of sexual assault survivors such as screening and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, treatment and care for young sex abuse victims, and psychological services by way of counselling support.
The Deborah House intervention is intended to include the provision of legal services to victims, provision of shelter, general rehabilitation services as well as availing victims of information and education.
However, despite the lofty intents behind the centre, victims of sexual assault in Imo state do not have access to the temporary shelter it provides even as frontline responders are forced to accommodate these girls and women at their personal expense.
It sounds bizarre but it is common practice for frontline responders to contribute money for the hospital tests of victims and in some instances, house and feed them at their personal expense.
Responders who pleaded anonymity said every time they referred victims of sexual assault to the Deborah House, such persons (most times women and girls) were turned back without any valid reason.
The Deborah House is expected to have medical personnel, psychologists, amongst others who with expertise, support victims of sexual assault to heal from the trauma without snide comments nor attitude.
While the centre falls under the purview of the state Ministry of Gender and Vulnerable Group, it leaves much to be desired as officials allege they can only provide what is available.
Many people fail to realise that most victims of sexual violence are most times shattered by the experience and need adequate psychological support to heal, and trained personnel to help pursue justice, they are unfortunately shattered by untrained police personnel who during interrogation, traumatize them even more.
The Deborah House must be rigid to provide specialist care for victims of sexual assault especially in the face of rising incestuous assaults involving minors. Or how does a girl return to the same house where her assaulter is a relative and owns the house.
Adequate budgetary provisions should be made for the Deborah House to provide excellent care for victims of rape lest such persons return to the society as battered, going about causing psychological problems to others because they had no access to specialist care and justice. The time to act is now!
