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CITIZENGO, a Spanish organisation has come below extreme assaults in Nigeria.
Venture Alert, a non-governmental organisation primarily based in Abuja, Nigeria with workplaces within the 36 states of the federation, mentioned on Tuesday, Might 21, this 12 months, cops allegedly raided Marie Stopes Clinic in Lagos,
Based on the NGO, well being employees and sufferers have been allegedly harassed, and on the finish of the day, the officers took away information containing confidential data of purchasers.
This author notes that Marie Stopes affords free and reasonably priced household planning companies to ladies and men, being pregnant exams, pre and post-natal care, remedy and companies for sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV testing and ultrasound and laboratory companies.
Nevertheless, Gabriel Akinremi, the chief data officer of CLEEN Basis, AN ARM OF Venture Alert, the employees of the clinic are educated supply counseling and remedy particularly to those that can’t afford the prices at non-public hospitals.
His phrases: “To raid a centre that gives such companies is sending a message to ladies and women in addition to males and boys that they don’t seem to be protected in well being centres and that they do not deserve entry to high quality well being companies with out concern or judgment”.
That is occurring in a rustic that contributes 10% to the worldwide burden of maternal deaths rating fourth after Sierra Leone, Chad and the Central African Republic.
Secure areas the place ladies can entry confidential and non-judgmental sexual and reproductive well being companies are very important and we do not have sufficient of them to scale back the chance of maternal deaths.
Simply earlier than the raid in Lagos, the Minister of Well being was testifying earlier than the Nigerian Senate in regards to the overburdened well being system, the deplorable state of Normal Hospitals within the nation and the necessity to revitalize the tertiary and first well being care system in Nigeria.
Ladies and women are dying from preventable deaths due to lack of entry to high quality sexual and reproductive well being companies. Not too long ago launched NDHS 2018 information state: “Unmet want for household planning declined from 20% in 2008 to 16% in 2013 earlier than rising to 19% in 2018.”
Household planning is the aware selection by individuals to restrict or house the variety of kids they’ve by means of the usage of contraception. And 19% of married ladies in Nigeria have an unmet want for household planning companies, in accordance with the survey.
Marie Stopes should not be punished for providing a spectrum of companies, together with household planning, to those that want and need it, particularly ladies, married and single.
The work being completed by organizations like Marie Stopes is critical to dispel myths, present counseling on the best fashionable methodology of contraception and assist ladies and men house their kids.
The Nationwide Strategic Well being Improvement Plan 2018 – 2022 acknowledges the significance of this work, which is why considered one of its pillars is to “Promote common entry to complete high quality sexual and reproductive well being companies all through the life cycle and scale back maternal, neonatal, baby and adolescent morbidity and mortality in Nigeria.”
Marie Stopes’ work is supporting the federal government in ensuring Nigeria can obtain the targets to scale back morbidity and mortality, which suggests bettering the well being and wellbeing of girls and women in Nigeria. We must be celebrating their efforts, not intimidating them.
Ten % (10%) of maternal deaths in Nigeria is because of unsafe abortion. Entry to protected abortion is restricted in Nigeria, and might solely happen in circumstances the place a girl’s life is in danger.
Despite the fact that protected abortion companies are restricted, entry to post-abortion care (a service for girls and women who’ve medical complication on account of unsafe abortion) just isn’t restricted. Nigerian legal guidelines and insurance policies uphold ladies and women’ rights to post-abortion companies, a a lot wanted service that Marie Stopes offers.
Companies suppliers who’re implementing these insurance policies and tips shouldn’t be subjected to harassment and intimidation for performing their jobs. These healthcare employees are offering care and saving lives; actions that must be praised and promoted.
These efforts to demonize and block entry to authorized companies are being funded in Nigeria by a Spanish organisation referred to as CitizenGO.
CitizenGo is a companion to an SPLC designated hate group World Congress of Households and town of Madrid has banned their actions calling their campaigns hate primarily based.
CitizenGo and its extremist companions have been organizing trainings in Nigeria and Kenya inside the previous 18 months, attempting to dam ladies’s entry to essential healthcare.
They shouldn’t be allowed to instigate the harassment of girls making knowledgeable decisions about their well being, and well being employees who’re offered life-affirming companies. They’re an illiberal group and they’re bringing their hate mongering to Nigeria.
This group has set-up camp in Nigeria and is propagating false and unfounded sensational narratives in locations like Enugu, Imo, and Nairobi below the guise of spiritual and ethical obligations.
They need to not be allowed to instigate hate and oppression in Nigeria and the remainder of Africa. Hate just isn’t a part of our tradition, and we reject the importation on intolerance by international organizations.
It is a coordinated assault on the rights of girls, women, and marginalized individuals and we should say NO to their oppressive techniques.
Among the NGOs and activists that signed the doc have been:
Schooling as a Vaccine
Nigerian Feminist Discussion board
Alliances for Africa
Ladies’s Disaster Centre
Venture Alert
Imaginative and prescient Springs Initiative
The Initiative for Equal Rights
Ladies’s Well being and Equal Rights Initiative
Equality Hub
Ake Arts and E book Competition
NoMore Marketing campaign
Above Whispers
9jaFeminsta
Stand to Finish Rape
Worldwide Centre for Reproductive Well being and Sexual Rights
Autamaimasa Well being Basis
Drug Free and Preventative Healthcare Group
Iheoma Obibi
Olabukunola Williams
Fadekemi Akinfaderin
Maream S. Muhammad
OluTimehin Adegbeye
Lesley Agams
Ayodele Olofintuade
Akudo Oguaghamba
Josephine Chukwuma
Lola Shoneyin
Ngozi Juba
Manre Chirtau
Pamela Adie
Bisi Fayemi
Azeenarh Mohammed
Funmi Juba
Ireti Bakare
Hauwa Shekarau
Wana Udobang
Charmaine Pereira
Fisayo Owoyemi
Amy Oyekunle
Oluchi Ogwuegbu
Itoro Eze-Anaba
Karo Omu
Chioma Ogwuegbu
Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi
Uche Umolu
Oseyi Etomi
Sylvia Ekponimo
Rita Musa
Chika Ibeh
Toyin Chukwudozie
Otibho Obianwu
CitizenGO is group of energetic residents who work collectively, utilizing on-line petitions and motion alerts as a useful resource, to defend and promote life, household, and liberty. We work to make sure that these in energy respect human dignity and people’ rights.
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Source by Emmanuel Udom