Most of the articles we've read about the approximately 270 Nigerian girls and young woman who were kidnapped on April 14 by Boco Haram have focused on possible military responses to rescue them, the terrorists, the Nigerian government, or on protesters. Here is a rare story focusing on the psychological and physical health of the girls and young women and what the government, health professionals, families, and communities can do to be better prepared for the care they will need and problems they will face in the event of their hoped for return.
Jina More of Buzzfeed reports Nigeria Prepares To Treat Rape, Sexual Trauma Of Kidnapped School Girls, in which discusses Nigeria health officials working with international health organizations, families, and communities to prepare for the likelihood that of things that maybe happening to these poor girls and young women that few wish to discuss or think about - sexual abuse.
“What is happening to the girls is an open secret: sexual abuse.” Dr. Ratidzai Ndhlovu, the country representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), ... “What is happening to the girls is an open secret: sexual abuse. We are preparing based on this assumption, which is almost a given," ... [they will need treatment for ] ..."the effects of rape, sexually transmitted infections, and the possibility that some will need abortions, which are all but illegal.
“The first thing those men [Boko Haram] will be thinking of is sexual violence,” said Dr. Valerie Obote, the national president of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN). “There’s no way those men are using protection; we don’t know how many will get HIV [or other sexually transmitted infections]. It’s a crisis on our hands.”
This long and well researched article raises a number of troubling issues such as the fact that experts expect many of the girls to be pregnant, but abortion is illegal in Nigeria, and the sad fact that rape victims often face a great deal of stigma, especially in conservative, rural areas.
Suicide, and attempts at illegal and dangerous abortions, are not uncommon for rape victims pregnant with the child of their rapist. Distressing details include a report that some of the young women who have escaped are searching for "concoctions" that might protect them from pregnancy.
Psychological and physical care for rape survivors is just one part of a comprehensive strategy that federal and state health officials, United Nations agencies and international organizations have been brainstorming over the last several weeks. On Wednesday, Kolo began a training in trauma support counseling for 11 community health workers, and a health committee began mapping the crisis area Tuesday.
Kolo is looking for $1.3 million of funding to support her ad-hoc work,
One discouraging fact this article reminds us of is that because of the 1973 Helms Amendment, the U.S. government is restricted from providing funding that could be used to provide abortions, so we can not contribute to these inspiring and compassionate efforts.
How sad it is that progressives in the United States cannot take the leadership role around the world we should be because the right has tied our hands on this issue. And, that experts would probably tell us that it would be unrealistic for Democrats to try to repeal the Helms Amendment.
Let's hope women and our Democratic base get angry enough about these kinds of issues, see how damaging these Republicans have been to our country, to our ability to lead, and to our image around the world, and break-out of our usual pattern, of sitting out non-presidential election cycles, and this November decide to come out in droves in the November election to help throw them out.
Nigerian health professionals and workers deserve credit for their willingness to defy conventional mores to avoid discussing such "delicate" matters to wisely and compassionately help families, communities, and the health system better prepare for the hoped for return of these poor kidnap victims. I suspect we will learn that courageous woman like Kolo and others individuals like the doctors mentioned in these articles will deserve a lot of the credit for initiating these inspiring efforts.
Our hearts are with them all and we send our prayers and best wishes for their safe return.
1:36 PM PT: I'd like to highlight the courage, compassion, wisdom, and competence of the doctors who seem to be driving this inspired initiative. Nigeria and health professionals around the world can be proud of their praiseworthy and compassionate initiative.
Dr. Valerie Obote, the national president of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN).
Dr. Ratidzai Ndhlovu, the country representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), told BuzzFeed.
Dr. Nihinlola Mabogunje, the country director of Ipas, an international health NGO.
Dr. Salma Kolo, the Borno state health commissioner.
Dr. Robert Chiegil, deputy director of FHI360, an international family health organization.