Survivors of sexual assault in Lagos are set to receive faster, more professional and better-documented medical care as the state government intensifies training for healthcare workers handling rape and defilement cases.
The two-day training organised by the Ministry of Health in Alausa is expected to significantly strengthen Lagos’ frontline response, a critical step in a state that records some of the country’s highest reports of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
Officials said the programme aims to ensure that no survivor is turned away, mismanaged, or denied justice due to poor documentation or lack of clinical expertise.
Declaring the training open, Dr. Oluwatosin Onasanya, speaking on behalf of the Director of Family Health and Nutrition, Dr. Folasade Oludara, said upgrading the skills of health workers would directly improve survivors’ chances of healing and securing justice. “Healthcare workers are often the first responders. When they do their part well, survivors are protected, and offenders are held accountable,” she said.
The state has supplied specimen-collection tools to facilities, but the training, she added, “ensures personnel can correctly identify, document and manage cases”, especially in LGAs with high incident rates.
SGBV Programme Manager, Dr. Juradat Aofiyebi, explained that building the capacity of 25 experienced doctors across general hospitals would improve prosecution outcomes.
She noted that accurate medical reporting is often the difference between conviction and acquittal. “This training strengthens our entire response chain, from care to courtroom,” she said.
At the session, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs. Adebanke Ogunde, underscored the life-changing impact of proper medical documentation. She told participants, “A survivor’s hope for justice rests on the quality of your report. Many convictions have been won, or lost, because of it.”
Medical experts also addressed the emotional toll on health workers. Consultant Family Physician at LASUTH, Dr. Oluwajimi Sodipo, said timely care within 72 hours could prevent infections and produce usable forensic evidence.
He praised Lagos’ inter-agency approach but urged further investment in DNA capacity, insurance and health-worker motivation to sustain impact.
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) reinforced the state’s safety net for survivors, explaining that under the ILERA EKO scheme and the Equity Fund, survivors are entitled to full medical coverage, from tests to follow-up care. Claims Officer Mrs. Anyebe Margret said this ensures “no survivor is denied treatment because of money.”
Another facilitator, Mrs. Ololade Babarere, emphasised self-care for health workers to prevent compassion fatigue. “When caregivers burn out, survivors suffer,” she warned.
Participants described the training as transformative. Dr. Odiawa Ijeweme of General Hospital, Apapa, said she can now handle cases “more confidently and in line with Lagos State’s protocols,” while Dr. Charity Eferaro of the Lagos State University Health Centre said the sessions strengthened her ability to support student survivors “medically, emotionally and psychologically.”
With the training completed, Lagos strengthens its position as a national leader in coordinated SGBV response, ensuring that survivors receive dignity, justice and comprehensive care each time they walk into a health facility.