Obaseki Pledges Protection Of Women’s Rights, Improved Reproductive Health Services

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his government will sustain reforms and policies aimed at eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and girls in the state, ensuring that they have unfettered access to quality and affordable healthcare services.

The governor gave the assurance in commemoration of this year’s World Population Day marked yearly by the United Nations and its sister agencies, to raise awareness on global population issues.

Obaseki noted that his administration will continue to prioritize policies that eliminate inequality, engender inclusive growth and ensure the sustenance of the reproductive health and rights and women and girls in the state.

According to him, “On this day of the commemoration of the World Population Day, it is imperative to reaffirm our commitment to eliminating practices that threaten vulnerable groups especially women and girls during and after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“We must all work together to raise awareness and accelerate actions to ensure the fulfilment of women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights, ensuring that they have unfettered access to quality and affordable healthcare services.”

The governor said that the state government has undertaken a number of initiatives to ensure pregnant women continue to have access to quality and affordable healthcare services, noting that ongoing reforms in the health sector are aimed at improving healthcare delivery in the state.

He added that the state has signed into law the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law 2021 as Amended (VAPPL); inaugurated a 24-man Committee of Edo State Gender and Sexual Based Violence Management Committee (EDO-GBV) and a 24-man Committee on Gender-Based Violence Technical Working Group, as part of the government’s stance against rape and other forms of gender-based violence.

According to the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, “Our latest estimates indicate that COVID-19 will push 47 million women and girls into extreme poverty. Many girls who are out of school may never return.

“In every corner of the world, we are seeing a reversal of hard-won gains and an erosion of women’s reproductive rights and choices, among other things. With the onset of the pandemic, resources for sexual and reproductive health services were diverted.

“These gaps in access to health rights are unacceptable. Women cannot be alone in this fight.”