The Association of Women Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN), Borno State Chapter, has called for sustained efforts to strengthen HIV prevention and harm reduction services through increased awareness of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), gender issues, and human rights among healthcare students.
The appeal was made during the Bi-annual All-Staff/Students Meeting on Gender-Based Violence and Gender & Human Rights held at the Borno State College of Health Science and Technology. The sensitisation programme aimed to educate students and staff on human rights, GBV prevention, available support services, and reporting channels for survivors.
The event brought together officials of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), representatives of ASWHAN, members of the college community, and students from various academic departments.
Speaking at the programme, ASWHAN Borno State Coordinator, Maina Shettima, said the lingering effects of insurgency and displacement have increased the risk of gender-based violence across the state. He stressed the need to equip future healthcare professionals with practical knowledge of human rights, GBV response strategies, and referral pathways to improve access to justice and healthcare for vulnerable groups.
Also speaking, the Public Liaison Officer of the National Human Rights Commission, Zainab Haruna Bwala, said the sensitisation was designed to deepen participants’ understanding of fundamental human rights, promote gender equality, and raise awareness of confidential mechanisms for reporting abuse and discrimination.
She noted that human rights are universal and must be protected at all times, adding that healthcare workers have a responsibility to uphold patients’ dignity, combat stigma and discrimination, and provide survivor-centred care for victims of gender-based violence.
Participants also engaged in an interactive question-and-answer session, seeking clarification on issues relating to GBV, discrimination, human rights, and available support services. Facilitators responded with practical guidance on referral systems and institutional support available to survivors.
At the end of the programme, the Dean of Student Affairs commended ASWHAN for organising what he described as a timely and impactful initiative. He said the sensitisation had equipped students and staff with the knowledge needed to identify, prevent, and respond effectively to cases of gender-based violence while promoting respect for human rights within the college and the wider community.
