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MWAN Edo paid a Courtesy visit to the new CMD of Military Hospital Colonel B I George on Aug 29th 2020 to congratulate her on her appointment and also to iniate partnership. MWAN Edo is most excited as she is a member of MWAN Edo and we know that women always make a difference anywhere we head/lead. In one month she is already making posive progress. Present was MWAN Edo president Dr Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin and Sec Dr Nkemdilim Okonji. Congratulaons again Colonel B I George.

MWAN Edo was present at the commissioning of the Lily Hospital Covid Testing Centre.

Present was the President Dr Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, Sec Dr Nkemdilim Okonji, PRO Dr Julia Maduemezia, The CMD of Lily Hospital Dr Chudi Ochuba, Commissioner of Health Dr Patrick Okundia.

The centre was commissioned by the Executive Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki.

Mwan Edo contributed a pedal powered wash hand point to EDO NMA house (Doctors house) on June 1st 2020. The President Dr Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin handed it over to Edo NMA chairman Dr Valentine Omoifo practicing physical distancing. Also present was MDCANs UBTH chairman Prof Ugiagbe, ARD SHMB president Dr. Michael Edo, MDCANs SHMB dep chair Dr Omozuwa, PE Dr Ehi Isa, Sec Dr Nkemdilim Okonji, Fin sec Dr Tuoyo Ebiyon, Dep chair NMA Dr Harrison Omokhua, NMA PRO Dr Eustace Oseghale, Immediate Past Edo NMA chair Dr Osaigbovo, NADUH UNIBEN chairman Dr Paul, ARD UBTH president Dr Uwa Ehigiegba, Edo NMA Asst sec Dr Oamen Blaze, Dr Aletor.

The welfare of our members and colleagues is important. Let’s reduce the means of Covid 19 Pandemic spread.

The Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) Edo branch in collaboration with International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Edo branch and other NGOs have led a protest to fight against Gender Based Violence, rape and killings.

Dr Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, President of MWAN in Edo disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Benin. Urhoghide-Edigin called for the rights of women and children were advocated for.

“MWAN Edo, Edo FIDA, NAWOJ, Labour Congress, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Development and over 15 other NGOs joined forces today to fight against rape and violence”.

“We call for the need for DNA database banks in all police stations, the need for the government to start paying the medical and legal fees of all rape victims”.

“For the need to all women and girls to protect themselves undergoing a defence class and carrying pepper sprays and teasers, and expedited prosecution of perpetrators ”.

“Various demands were given to the government and stakeholders involved.

“A press conference took place at the NBA house. The Attorney General Office was visited, the House of Assembly was visited. And they all promised to attend to all our demands including the bills we were advocating for that has been submitted”, she said.

Urhoghide-Edigin called on the Federal Government and relevant security agencies to protect the lives of women and children in the state.

1) MWAN Edo is advocating for the police to send all the DPOs in all the police stations and all their medical doctors to undergo training in forensic & DNA analysis center.

2) Advocating for the government and police to have DNA database in every police station for sex offenders.

3) Advocating for CCTV cameras to be installed in all public places.

4) Advocating that all the rape victims bills are to be paid by the state government.

5) That prosecution of all perpratrators are by state so sentiments from the families involved wouldnot tamper with Justice.

6) Advocates to the Chief Judge of Edo state that prosecution of the perpratrators is expedited and not prolonged as it has been done in the past.

We hope this partnership would bring more things for MWAN Edo.

Also present: Ex Officio Dr Mary Ehimigbai, Sec Dr Nkemdilim Okonji. Dr Momoh of the forensic & DNA analysis center and other staff of the Forensic center.

MWAN Edo led by the President Dr Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, paid a visit to the Forensic & DNA Analysis center in UNIBEN, headed by Dr Eddy Ehikhamenor. The Forensic & DNA analysis center is a world’s class center that investigates cases and trains first-degree holders in any field on Forensic & DNA analysis. The next semester resumes in September 2020 where new intakes who are interested in geng a diploma can resume for a little token. We encourage everyone to get this diploma as there is forensic in every area of study be it medicine, engineering or more.

As a world class testing center, we also employ other states to use the services of this forensic & DNA analysis center. The Forensic center is involved actively in the investigation of the late rape/murder victim Uwaila Omozuwa.

The forensic & DNA analysis center has offered to partner with MWAN Edo and render services to all rape victims we send to them. With this partnership,

1) MWAN Edo office now is a center for rape victims to be assessed as we would be supplied with rape kits and assessment papers. This would support the already running SGBV-RT centre in Central Hospital Benin city.

2) MWAN Edo office is now a DNA testing center where samples for DNA testing can be taken. DNA testing kits are also available in the office at a token.

3) MWAN Edo office is a center where Domestic Violence cases can be reported to.

4) MWAN Edo office is a center where victims can get psychological evaluation and counselling.

Dr Petronilla Akpan represented MWAN Edo today in an advocacy program teaching the public on what to do in cases of Gender Based Violence.

She also intimated them on all MWAN Edo has done to curb GBV in Edo state.

MWAN Edo says No to GBV!

#JusceForUwaila

MWAN Edo donated a wash hand point to Uselu market today June 5th 2020. It was handed over to the leadership of the market. Present where the police officers and market Coordinators attached to the markets.

Mwan Edo members present: President Dr Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, Immediate past president Dr Lucy Eriba Idiese, PE Dr Ehi Isa, Sec Dr Nkemdilim Okonji, Ex Officio 2 Dr Mary Ehimigbai.

Mwan Edo touching lives and healing with the love of a mother.

#CurbingTheSpreadOfCoronaVirus

Lawan, group seek stiff penalties, arrest of suspects, MWAN demands Justice

The Federal Government yesterday ordered the police authories to unravel the circumstances surrounding the rape and murder of a female student of the University of Benin, Vera Uwaila Omozuwa in Benin City, Edo State.

It also ordered immediate investigation of the sexual abuse of a minor in Jigawa State by 14 men, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice. In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, described the gang-rape and murder of Miss Omozuwa as a cruel and barbaric act that offended human sensibility, as well as antithetical to decency, saying no society would tolerate such depravity. He stressed said the serial sexual abuse of a minor by 14 men in Jigawa State was not only repulsive, but highly condemnable.

Consequently, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has ordered immediate transfer of the investigators to the Force headquarters, Abuja. The directive followed the preliminary report from the team of investigators and forensic experts earlier deployed to assist the Edo State Police Command to probe the incident.

Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, who disclosed this in Abuja, said the DIG, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Anthony Ogbizi Michael, would supervise investigation of the case. Besides, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, advocated stringent measures and stiffer penalties against perpetrators of rape in the country. Lawan’s advocacy was coming against the backdrop of a moon considered to condemn the increasing cases of rape and brutality against women and girls in Nigeria, saying with stringent measures and stiffer penalties in place in Nigeria’s criminal and penal code, defaulters would be weary of the consequences of crime.

Besides, a rights and good governance advocacy group, Make A Difference (MAD) has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to declare a suspect wanted for his alleged involvement in the rape and murder of Omozuwa. This was contained in a statement issued by its Communication and Advocacy Director, Lemmy Ughegbe in Abuja yesterday, saying on his Facebook page, the suspect admitted to knowing what led to Omozuwa’s rape and murder.

According to him, in reaction to a news report on Omozuwa’s killing, the suspect had posted on Facebook, “Good for her. Why will she be dang two room mates at the same me?” However, after several condemnations from other Facebook users over the comment, he pulled down the post and deactivated his account. Meanwhile, Edo State chapter of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), condemned the gruesome murder of Omozuwa, by yet-to-be identified persons in a Church.

The group urged on the Edo State Government and security agencies to unravel and bring those behind the dastardly act to justice. Speaking with The Guardian in Benin City, President of MWAN, Edo Branch, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, advocated protection of the girl-child and expressed shock over Omozuwa’s murder. She noted that the girl child was the most vulnerable in society and stressed the need to protect every life, particularly women and children, as they remained the most vulnerable.

Mwan Edo paid a courtesy visit with the Sex Gender Based Violence Response Team to the Commissioner of Police. In attendance was the President Dr Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, Ex Officio 2 Dr Mary Ehimigbai, Commissioner of Justice Prod Yinka Omoregbe, FIDA President Iryn, Subeb rep Mrs Esele.

It was a very successful outing and a good start with the new Commissioner of Police. The CP assured us of his support and clearly showed that he’s our partner in fighting against SGBV and making sure that perpetrators do not go unpunished.