Experts have raised concerns about the adverse effects of sexual and gender-based violence on children raised in homes affected by such violence, emphasizing the need for parents to set positive examples.

These concerns were raised at a recent two-day training program aimed at empowering healthcare providers, organized by Mercy Corps in collaboration with the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (PHCB) and the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).

The training, held under the theme “Empowering Health Providers: Strengthening Response and Care for Gender-Based Violence Survivors,” is part of the Girls Improving Resilience Through Livelihood and Health Program (GIRL-H).

Speaking on the lasting impact of domestic violence on young minds, Oluwakemi Bello, Head of Field Operations at DSVA, said: “Parents are the first role models for their children. A child who sees their father battering their mother is greatly affected by domestic violence. Children growing up in an abusive relationship are affected mentally, emotionally, and they often feel depressed. This can also negatively impact their academic performance. Childhood should be a time free from adult burdens. A child is not supposed to worry about what affects the parents—they should be playful, cheerful, and focused on their education.”

Highlighting how exposure to abuse can perpetuate a cycle of violence into adulthood, Bello said: “Research has shown that children raised in an abusive relationship tend to grow up to replicate the behaviors of either parent. A boy who witnesses domestic violence may grow up to beat his wife, believing it to be normal. Girls raised in such homes may believe they must shout at their husbands and be verbally abusive, just as they witnessed their mothers doing.”

Outlining the goals of the training, Bello said, “We want health workers to join hands with us in fighting the menace of SGBV. The training is meant to build their capacity on how to handle such cases professionally, how to treat victims and survivors without traumatizing them, and how to report cases effectively. This will help strengthen our referral system.”

Advocating for preventative measures, Bello urged parents to be mindful of their actions and to foster a safe environment for their children.

Speaking on the event, Owokoniran Kafayat Oluwatobi, Program Officer at Mercy Corps and Programs Assistant for Shomolu, emphasized the importance of educating health workers on tackling GBV.

“We want to eradicate gender-based violence in the community by training health workers on how to effectively address it. That is why we are working with adolescent out-of-school and marginalized girls. That’s why we are bringing in health workers to eradicate gender-based violence.”

Explaining further, Oluwatobi said, “Whenever people in their community have issues, these trained health workers will be able to attend to them promptly. They will be able to rescue victims who are experiencing these issues.”

“We are working with five LGAs: Shomolu, Kosofe, Alimosho, and Ojo. Our goal is to see gender-based violence reduced to the barest minimum in all these five LGAs. Across these areas, we expect that health workers, based on this training, will be able to provide professional help and support to victims.”

She also noted that 50 health workers from three local governments were participating in the training, with two additional training sessions taking place simultaneously at other locations.

One of the healthcare workers, Nurse Shobola Olubukola Adetoun, described the training as an “eye-opener.” “This program is equipping health workers to handle victims and survivors of SGBV in a way that helps them feel safe and not stigmatized,” Olubukola said. She also emphasized the need for government support, particularly in providing free test kits to examine rape or defilement victims. “Not all health centers have these kits. They should be free and accessible,” she added.