JAAIDS ORGANISES DISCUSSION PLATFORM ON RAPE AS IT AFFECTS NIGERIA

By Adenike Ashogbon

It was indeed a gathering of intellects and noble individual as the Journalists Against Aids (JAAIDS) created a platform to discuss issues surrounding Rape and its aftermath effect on the victim, media as well as society at large.

The programme which was tagged, ‘Rape breaking the silence and enhancing success to care for survivors’ featured in form of a round table have in attendance media practitioners, notable  non-governmental organizations as well as facilitators, youth advocates for change amongst others.

To prepare the participants on what the event entailed, Miss Funke of JAAIDS showcased a slide presentation that had an overview research work JAAIDS as an organization thus every one present had background knowledge of the prevalence of Rape in the country in the past 4months.

It was reviewed that about 427 Rape incident was recorded in Lagos state in 2012 through the office of the Public Defender with 17 newspapers from Oct 2012 – Jan 2013 with 3 Magazines and 14 newspapers. 11 out of 17 media monitored (3magazine). To commemorate the presentation, she reiterated that rape incidents are not restricted to only the female gender s it also cuts across and affects their male counterparts.

January 2013 gave us an insights as we discovered that the highest number of rape Lagos state had was 427 reported cases in 2012 (on the average, 1 rape incident occurs daily in Lagos State) limited data on happening in other state.

Rape which we are aware of, is also gradually becoming a nation wide epidermic. In line with reported media cases, one can say categorically that even the report the masses get to read on the oages of the papers are only a tip of the iceberg as many cases never get to the law enforcement agents and this is very appalling.

Note: it is not a specific location issue, its also an environmental issue. it was resolved also that Rape is an act of violence.

Speaking first was Dr. Mrs Princess Olufemi-Kayode, Executive Director, MediaConcern and her speech centered around Breaking the Silence about Rape|; Barriers posed by stigma and Discrimination. She noted that the way the society embraces the problem is not encouraging as they vest more blame on the victims rather than the conveyor of such illicit act. In her words she said, ‘non-conflict rape is becoming more chaotic day by day and no one is talking about that. Moreover the way the society embraces rape they term more fault on the victim and that is uncalled for’

However, princess recommended that the society need to shift the blame off the victim, inorder not to tolerate rape. She went further to note that Rape itself is a plague and shouldn’t be seen as an epidermic and most of all that Rape has nothing to do with the dressing of the victims or survivors. This she says she has gotten to know during her course of discharge of duties as an advocate for human and women issues.

To wrap it up, Princess enjoined the media as the fourth estate of the realm to endeavour in reducing the number of monsters in rape actions rather than shifting the blame on the victims as the media has more roles to play in order to suppress rape actions, effects and reparcautions faster and broader.

Dr. Oladipupo Fisher, Senior Project Officer, Lagos State Aids Control Agency (LSACA) was the second speaker, he dwelled more on the topic ‘Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) : what is it and how does it offer protection to rape survivors?

During his presentation, Dr. Oladipupo explained that PEP relates to the use of ARVS to prevent HIV infection in persons exposed to potential risk of acquiring HIV infection within 72hours of exposure for 28days.

He went further to explain the steps to access clients in need of PEP, this include; first aid care, counseling, risk assessment, HIV testing, pregnancy test, provision of short term followership. More so, the factors that affects individual access to PEP also include; societal stigma, cultural influence, family pressure, peer group pressure, law enforcement agents, health care workers.

In line with these factors, Dr. Oladipupo also noted that there are some other factors that also affect PEP potency and this he said include; delayed initiation of PEP, resistant virus in individuals as well as poor drug adherence. If all of this is put into consideration, the virus would be properly managed in the individual or victim.