SFH Trains Law Enforcement Officers On Gender Diversity, Human Rights In Bauchi

BY KHALID IDRIS DOYA, Bauchi
Deputy Managing Director with the Society for Family Health, Mrs. Jennifer Anyanti has stressed the need for Senior Law Enforcement Officers to see not only the law implementation but also the health aspects of their duties and responsibilities.
Mrs. Anyanti explained that training of law enforcement agents such as the Police, NDLEA personnel and para-military officers has been part and parcel of the success story of the society.
She was speaking at a 5-day training of Law Enforcement Senior Officers from Adamawa and Bauchi states on Gender, Gender Diversity, Human Rights and Health, organized by a Non-Governmental organization Society For Family Health in collaboration with the Bauchi State Agency for the Control HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA), opened yesterday at Yankari Games Resort and Safari in Bauchi state.
According to her, the training would increase the knowledge of the officers on gender sexuality, HIV/AIDS, other infectious diseases and other health related issues, and equip them with the right skills to confront and address issues on human rights as they affect child rights. 
The training, according to Mrs. Jennifer Anyanti, was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), said that the law enforcement officers are also to collaborate with the society in ensuring effective community programming for key populations and their families that included vulnerable people and marginalized communities.
Anyanti noted that strategic law enforcement personnel are being put to a considerable test with the resultant increase in anti-criminal activities all over the country, especially as a result of poverty challenges and inflation occasioned by COVID-19 epidemic.
Also speaking during the opening ceremony, the Adamawa state Commissioner of police, CP Aliyu Adamu Alhaji expressed delight with the choice of police to be part and parcel of the program, describing it as apt as the police are willing to partner with the organizers.
Adamu expressed optimism for a profitable and brainstorming sessions for exchange of knowledge that would positively impact on their day-today activities while policing the nation, as it charts the course for achieving the set goals of the project.
He thanked the training organizers for reaching out to the police as a key stakeholder in the project while looking forward for more inclusiveness in their future activities with a view to enable them effectively policing the nation.
Bauchi state commissioner police, Sylvester Abiodun Alabi said that despite implementation of programmes aimed at prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, the sexually diverse population has continued to heighten the risks of the infectious diseases.
Alibi, represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police, DC Rose Cholom, therefore stressed the need to analyze some of the reasons for the ugly situation, and offer policy pragmatic recommendations that would ensure the provision of broad base and effective prevention and control measures of these diseases. 
Also speaking, Chairman of BACATMA who was represented by Isyaka Tijjani Bello, explained that the training will offer a continuous dominant discourse on equitable aspects to help services with a view to preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections from a gender-based diversity perspective.