Human Right Day: Commission distributes condom, offers free medical medication in Ebonyi
for over 5,000 persons in Ebonyi on various diseases, including the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis
A and B.
Others are: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), Tuberculosis, as well as free treatment for those with high blood pressure and general body check-ups.
The commission, in collaboration with Hero’s Health Support Initiative, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP),
Medical Women Association and Ministry of Women Affairs also distributed condoms to individuals in the state.
The gesture was to mark the International Human Rights Day (IHRD) and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Abakaliki.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IHRD is annually celebrated on Dec. 10 around the globe to honour the UN General Assembly’s
adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global enunciation of human rights and one of the first major achievements of the new UN.
The Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr Tony Ojukwu, therefore, said that the 2023 event tagged “Freedom, Equity and Justice to All” called for urgent protection of
lives.
Represented by Mr Christopher Okorie, the Coordinator of the commission in Ebonyi, Ojukwu said “citizens deserve the right to good governance, right to
good health and right to all human needs.
“The international Human Rights Day celebration is a call to action to build the culture of respect, tolerance, and justice.
“Let us say no to deprivation of one’s rights in the society, especially women. Depriving women of their entitlements over husband’s property. Stop all the stigma against persons.
“Yes, we organised medical outreach because human beings deserve good health to live. So, we must protect them. The distribution of condom is to protect them against disease like HIV and other related diseases.”
Mr Joel Nwoke, the Programme Officer, Hero’s Health Support Initiative, said the medical outreach was targeted at over 5,000 persons.
He said “our treatment is free and every person treated goes home with some condoms. We have come to support NHRC to celebrate 2023 Human Rights Day.”
Ifunaya Chukwu, Public Enlightenment Officer, NAPTIP in the state, who spoke on girl-child rights and protection, decried the increasing rate of child labour in the society.
Chukwu warned against human trafficking and rape and urged citizens to desist from such acts.
