The Gombe State Government, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has inaugurated a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
Speaking at the Gombe Specialist Hospital on Friday, the Deputy Governor, Mr Manassah Jatau, described the initiative as a significant step towards combating sexual violence in the state.
Jatau, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, said the centre would provide a safe space for survivors to access medical, psychological and legal support.
He explained that the facility would operate as a one-stop centre, offering a comprehensive range of essential services to victims of sexual and gender-based violence.
According to him, the centre is equipped with key facilities, including a counseling room, pharmacy store and laboratory.
Jatau urged traditional and community leaders to promptly report cases of sexual violence, noting that the centre could only function effectively if survivors were brought in for support.
The Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, said the centre would help restore hope to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Gombe State.
She emphasized that sexual violence often has long-term psychological effects, requiring care beyond immediate medical treatment.
Rafique described the centre as a critical component of child protection integrated into the healthcare system, stressing that abuse of children and gender-based violence must be prevented, not only treated after occurrence.
“While the centre is vital for saving lives and protecting mental health, preventing abuse in the community is even more important,” she said.
She called on community leaders to prioritize prevention efforts rather than waiting for cases to be referred to the centre.
Rafique also urged stronger engagement with grassroots stakeholders and increased awareness campaigns, noting that most perpetrators are neighbors or family members.
“We must educate communities on how parents can better protect their children.
“This challenge is not unique to Gombe. I have encountered cases of abuse involving children as young as six months across five states.
“These harmful practices must end so that survivors are supported and future generations are protected,” she said.
The Medical Director of Gombe Specialist Hospital, Dr Sambo Dawa, said the hospital had been providing care to survivors through its SGBV unit since 2021.
He disclosed that between 2021 and 2025, the unit assisted 645 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
According to Dawa, the survivors’ ages ranged from one to 24 years. Of the total cases, 55 were aged between one and four years, 133 were aged five to nine, 196 were aged 10 to 14, 150 were aged 15 to 19, and 111 were aged 20 to 24.
He said male survivors accounted for 119 cases (18.4 per cent), while females accounted for 526 cases (81.6 per cent).
On the relationship with perpetrators, Dawa stated that 174 survivors (26.9 per cent) were abused by family members, 325 (50.4 per cent) by neighbors, and 146 (22.6 per cent) by strangers.
Regarding the type of violence, he said 531 cases (82.3 per cent) involved sexual abuse, while 114 cases (17.7 per cent) involved physical abuse.
Dawa added that most cases were reported from rural areas, with 574 cases recorded, while 71 cases came from urban centres.
