… as Bill to provide medical treatment for rape victims passes second reading
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has made move to provide free medical care and treatment to victims of sexual harassment within the State.
Recall that in recent time, there have been an hike in the rate of rape cases in Akwa Ibom State as well as Nigeria at large.
Howbeit, it is a truism that the first point of call of a rape victim should be the hospital where such victim will receive medical attention and authentic medical report to prove at the Police Station and in the Court of law that the victim was truly raped.
Pitiably, some of the rape victims refuse to go the hospital, not because of fear but because of they cannot foot the medical bills.
In a bid to proffer possible solution of providing medical accessibility to victims, the Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and member representing Okobo State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey brought to the floor of the House for second reading, a Bill to to provide “Compulsory Medical Treatment and Care for Child victims of Sexual Harassment”.
While presenting the Bill, Rt. Hon. Felicia Bassey stated that the aim of the Bill is to give the victim the right to compulsory treatment.
“This bill will mandate the hospital to admit and offer treatment to victims of sexual harassment as well as provide authentic medical report for further action at the Police Station” Rt. Hon. Felicia Bassey submitted.
Furthermore, Rt. Hon. Felicia Bassey stated that the bill will create a sexual assault clinical response team who will be saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that rape victims receive free medical care and justice at the Court of Law.
She also pointed that the bill will create an atmosphere for equal opportunity for victims to access government sponsored medical care while reminding the House that most these victims cannot afford to foot the medical bills.
Reacting to the Bill, member representing Ibesikpo Asutan State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko, stated that with this bill passed into law, the first point of call for victims will be the hospital where they will get medical treatment and also receive a medical report affirming that truly, the said victim was raped.
Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko also pointed that the Bill will curtail false rape allegation, he cited a recent trending case of a fashion designer who committed suicide because he could not handle false rape accusation labelled against him.
Members representing Oruk Anam, Etinan and Ukanafun State Constituencies, Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian Akpan, Rt. Hon. Barr. Aniefiok Dennis and Dr. Charity Ido respectively reacted in support of the bill.
