As of July 2026, Benue State has exceeded its target of providing post-violence care to 2,131 survivors, with a total of 3,874 survivors of sexual, physical, and emotional violence receiving care. This was disclosed by Mrs. Lucia Torjir, Senior Technical Officer of APIN Public Health Initiatives, at a Post-Violence Care (PVC) stakeholders' meeting in Makurdi. The meeting was organised by APIN in collaboration with the Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
APIN is supporting 165 out of 264 health facilities in Benue State to provide sexual, physical, and emotional violence (SPEV) services. According to Torjir, the 3,874 survivors reached represent 181.8% of the programme's target, indicating a high demand for post-violence services in the state. The programme's achievements in the third quarter of the 2026 financial year were presented at the meeting.
The majority of survivors, 3,734, representing 96.3%, received care for physical or emotional violence, while 140, representing 3.6%, received post-rape care for sexual violence. Additionally, 88 survivors commenced post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent HIV infection, with 75, representing 85.2%, completing the treatment.
Torjir called for stronger referral mechanisms to ensure that survivors receive comprehensive and timely clinical and non-clinical support. She explained that sexual, physical, and emotional violence could increase the risk of HIV infection and undermine survivors' access to prevention, treatment, and continuous healthcare.
To address gaps in treatment completion, APIN proposes a structured telehealth and active follow-up system to improve adherence among survivors receiving PEP. Under this arrangement, health workers would contact survivors within 24 to 72 hours of treatment initiation and conduct subsequent follow-ups at specific intervals.
The meeting brought together stakeholders from the health, justice, security, and civil society sectors to examine gaps in existing referral pathways and ways to strengthen reporting on the National GBV Reporting Dashboard. The need for trauma-informed and culturally respectful care was emphasised, particularly in establishing trust and ensuring survivors' safety.
For the 2027 programme year, APIN will sustain support to health facilities, with an emphasis on screening and identification of violence cases, PEP completion, and tracking of referrals. The Benue State Sexual Assault Referral Centre has expressed its readiness to strengthen collaboration with APIN and other stakeholders.
Key points
- 3,874 survivors of sexual, physical, and emotional violence received post-violence care in Benue State as of July 2026.
- APIN Public Health Initiatives supported 165 health facilities in providing SPEV services.
- The programme aims to improve adherence among survivors receiving PEP through a structured telehealth and active follow-up system.
