Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARCS) Abandoned At Asubiaro Hospital, Osogbo

By: Bright Gbotemi, Osogbo

EVER since the completion and commissioning of the Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARCS), built in Osogbo, Osun State in November 2022, not a patient has found its way into the health facility center, findings by VOICE AIR MEDIA (VAM) has revealed.

The building which is situated at Asubiaro state hospital Osogbo, the state capital, has been abandoned to rot away.

Voice Air Media recalled that SARCS Center was commissioned in Asubiaro State Hospital, Osogbo, in November, 2022 by the then first Lady of Osun State Governor, Kafayat Oyetola.

Voice Air Media correspondent, in his findings, visited the center, speaks with major stakeholders, with the Community Advancement Initiative for Self-reliance (CAI4SR), CSOs, Government agencies (Moj, Judiciary, MOWA, Police), and Private Sector with the aim to curb sexual and gender-based violence in the State.

The Osun State Government under the Leadership of Senator Ademola Adeleke has been called upon to revive the abandoned Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARCS) In the 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 in the center, calling on Governor Ademola Adeleke to put in place and revive the centers, for it would aid in the speedy delivery of justice services and resolution of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence cases with the VAPP and ACJ laws.

Highlights of the necessary and basic needs to get SARC Centre running and to be put in place according to
this online newspaper findings revealed;

•Staffing personnel

– Therapists,
– Psychologists,
– Psychiatrists,
– Social workers,
– Social welfare officers,
– Attendants,
– Drivers,
– Security personnel,
– volunteers/interms,
– Sign interpreter for PWDs,
– Utilities,
– Electricity (inverters),
– Portable waters,
– Medical skits,
– Operational vehicle, –
– Communication gadgets, and others, are needed to make the centers serve it’s purpose.

•Background Checks

SARC is a Center, 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.

“Centers designed to address emergency medical treatment, forensic, medical examination services, and expert counselling support, among others.

•Government’s Reaction

The Permanent Secretary of Hospital Management Board, Dr Abayomi Oni, while speaking with Voice Air Media, said, “these are issues of personnel to permanently man the centre.”

He said the centre was previously headed by Dr Afolabi, consultant Gynaecologist, who resigned and left for UNIOSUN.

“While, the activities of the Centre has been managed at the A&E and supervised by Dr Dare (Mrs), Consultant in Charge.”

Dr Abayomi Oni, further said, “our personnel deficits have been factored in the Osun 2024 budget. We will fully operationalise the centre as soon as we get approvals to recruit relevant personnel”.