NAWOJ partner Army over incessant cases of rape
NAWOJ partner Army over incessant cases of rape
By: Akon Eddy
The Medical Director, 44 Army Reference Hospital Kaduna, Major General AbimbolaOlatilewaAmusuhas called on Nigerian women to raise their male children to have important values in the society; and tasks female journalists in the country not to forget to mentor the younger ones.
Maj. Gen. Amusu made the call when the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Kaduna State Chapter paid a courtesy visit to her office yesterday in Kaduna.
The Medical Director advised the women not to alienate the men in the course of their duty because at any point the women need the men, since women alone cannot drive progress or continuity of human existence.
Speaking further, Maj. Gen. Amusu said the fact that NAWOJ has come to identify with 44 Army Reference Hospital and with her is something that she sincerely appreciates; and pledgethe readiness of the Hospital in whichever way it can to support or partner the Association in the issues of rape prevention, or assistance for those who are victims of rape.
“While we’re mentoring we also should not alienate the men because at any point we need them. The women alone cannot drive progress and continuity of human existence so it’s a matter of making sure we always balance it.
“We often forget our sons and concentrate on raising our daughters, you mustn’t do this or that; don’t go to this place e.t.c but sometimes forget that we have to also put lots of efforts in making sure our sons also have the standard.
“We talked a lot about issues of rape, now why do we have such things? The men are also born by the mothers, so we have a duty to making sure we raise our sons to have values that are important in the society because that will also determine how they treat the women.
“The issue of pregnancy is one thing for those who are already in their fertile stage,the issue of infection and then you have permanent issues of psychological problems which can actually go behind and you might not even notice it. Even the victim might not noticed it till much, much later, that people will discover that it’s a deep seated issue. These are some of the different cases that come up in the hospital.
“The role of the Army, Medical Corp and this hospital in particular are actually defined to achieved one source and make sure we work within the constitutional roles of service of the Army.
“The expectation of the system is that any time people come in they’ll be able to access treatment as necessary. And when people come in as emergencies like that, the Army do not differentiate between who is a soldier or not a soldier because at that point what is important is the issue of saving life.
“I want to appreciate the fact that NAWOJ is a female association. I don’t necessarily fly the gender flag, but then of course you also have to recognize that at the tail end there’s always a difference between the men and the women.
“I think NAWOJ’s desire and programs to create awareness or improve quality of education or what is going on in the society is actually something that is good and commendable.
“Send us a request when you need to have somebody come to give a talk at such programs and within the exigencies of services that is possible, the Hospital will continue to provide the support,” the Medical Director said.
Earlier in her speech, Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter, NAWOJ, Mrs. Juliet Oyoyo, informed her host that the reason for the visit was to familiarize with 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna and see how her association can provide quality reportage of achievers and people in leadership positions, by way of aligning and showing support to such individuals in the society especially the women.
According to Oyoyo, her association will help to spread the vision and mission of the 44 Army Reference Hospital Kaduna under the able leadership of Maj. Gen. Abimbola O. Amusu; adding that as mothers, women are home builders.
Speaking further Mrs. Oyoyo appeal to the Medical Director not to relent in her efforts to secure a healthy society through her institution for the generality of the populace.
“NAWOJ is desirous of establishing a more cordial and working relationship with the 44 Army Reference Hospitals, Kaduna, particularly, your office as a way of partnering on ways to improve on the lives of the populace.
“The prevailing cases of VVF due to early marriages amongst our young girls, increasing cases of hypertension, lack of adequate and regular medical checks by women with its attendant reports of deaths, are becoming more worrisome here; and NAWOJ as an association is desirous of a better society for our gender folk; women.
“Be informed that whatever we gain here, in the course of this visitation, will definitely be taken back to our homes and shared with our families,” Oyoyo said.
“We often complainand talked about gender sensitivity, but then as we remember to carry the girls along we should also make sure we don’t forget our sons.
But then what does that mean? It means that as women particularly you have to remember that we have to mentor the people coming behind us. You know it’s not to any of our advantage if we have a group of 20 successful women and then 10yrs down the line instead of having 200 successful ones, you either have 20 or 10. This only means that people there at that time have failed. I think it’s important we carry that along so that at every opportunity wemake sure that we mentor other people coming behind.
So definitely whichever way the Hospital can support or partner in the issues of rape prevention, or assistance for those who are victims of rape, we’ll do that.
So, we’ll continue to see or look at that whatever the roles are legally, we can partner with NAWOJ. And then as journalists, you’re the fourth estate of the realm, you’re the ones that is able to reach out more to the society that’s why I said I will also get your different contacts. It’s also important not necessarily because I want to present a false front but it’s also good to have people that you know could portray or project what is true because they will have an idea of the activities and said yes, we know what is happening in this institution when the needs arise.
I as a person and because I’ve been in the Army for 33yrs now also follow rules, I tell my staff let us follow the rule of the Army. If you follow the rules you’re likely not to get into anything that will shake you. So, definitely that’s why for many of you I’m the only Major-General in the Army at this time and the second in Nigeria, but at the same time I’m very press shy.
“I’ve been approached by different media organizations and written severally, and I said no I’m a soldier and the Army has lots of rules maybe when I’m retire and not under those rules, maybe then they can put me inside newspapers and ask for all the stories. But then for now the Army is particular about such things and I’m sure you want me to reach the peak of my career. So, your reportage should be official visits and all that because we also do not want a situation that the Army would say you know women like to show up you know.
Earlier in her speech, Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of NAWOJ, Mrs. Juliet Oyoyo, inform her host that the reason for the visit was to familiarize with 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna and see how her association can provide quality reportage of achievers and people in leadership positions, by way of aligning and showing support to such individuals in the society especially the women.
According to Oyoyo, her association will help to spread the vision and mission of the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna under the able leadership of Maj. Gen. Abimbola O. Amusu; adding that as mothers, women are home builders.
“Be informed that whatever we gain here, in the course of this visitation, will definitely be taken back to our homes and shared with our families.
“NAWOJ is desirous of establishing a more cordial and working relationship with the 44 Army Reference Hospitals, Kaduna, particularly, your office as a way of partnering on ways to improve on the lives of the populace.
“The prevailing cases of VVF due to early marriages amongst our young girls, increasing cases of hypertension, lack of adequate and regular medical checks by women with its attendant reports of deaths, are becoming more worrisome here.
NAWOJ as an association is desirous of a better society for our gender folk; women,” Oyoyo said.