THE Osun State Government under the Leadership of Senator Ademola Adeleke have been called upon to revive the abandoned Sexual Assault Referral Center (SARC) Osun state Specialist hospital in Asubiaro Osogbo, Osun state capital.

Recalled that SARC Center was commissioned in November, 2022 by the then first Lady of Osun state Governor, Kafayat Oyetola.

The Community Advancement Initiative for Self-reliance (CAI4SR) a member of of the Sexual Gender Based Violence Network (SJN), CSOs, Government (Ministry of Justice, Judiciary, ministry of women, children and social Affaires ), Private Sector, and the Media, made the call on Friday, January 25th, 2024 in Osogbo, as a major recommendations at the end of the second bi-annual and shared learning and public private partnership engagement meeting to revive the SARC in Osogbo, Osun State.

The executive director of CAI4SR, Mrs. Eni Ayeni, said the “sexual assault referral centre” was commissioned in 2022, but not open for operation, no personnel, calling on Governor Ademola Adeleke to put in place and revive the center, it would give succour to SGBV survivors in the state.

The brainstorming session by the group highlights the necessary basic needs to get SARC Centre running and to be put in place below;

Staffing personnel(Therapists, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Social workers, Social welfare officers, attendants, Drivers, Security personnel, volunteers/interms, sign language interpreter for persons with disabilities ,Utilities, Electricity (inverters), portable waters, medical kits operational vehicle, communication gadgets, and others.

Background

SARC is a centre, suitated inside Asubiaro hospital Osogbo, a building, without function.. aims to provide Crucial medical, social, legal and safety protection services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Osun state.

Centres established to address emergency medical treatment, forensic, medical examination services, and expert counselling support, among others.