The Oyo State House of Assembly has mandated the state’s Ministry of Health to make a public announcement that victims of rape/defilement can now obtain medical reports from government hospitals for free.
Currently, rape/defilement victims are asked to pay N5,000 to obtain medical report from government hospitals, an act the Assembly said violated section 3 of the Child Rights Law of Oyo State and continued to dissuade rape victims from reporting their cases to relevant agencies.
The Assembly’s mandate followed the adoption of a motion moved by Honourable Wumi Oladeji representing Ogbomoso North State constituency titled, “Need To Stop Request For Payment of N5,000 for Medical Reports from Victims of Rape/Defilement in Government Hospitals in Oyo State.”
In the motion, Hon. Oladeji observed that most victims, especially the girl child, usually were unable to pay the compulsory N5,000 charge at government hospitals for medical reports, thereby jeopardizing the prosecution of offenders.
Decrying wanton rape in the society, the Oladeji averred that exemption of such victims from the N5,000 payment to get evidence for prosecution, will encourage victims to report such cases to the appropriate security agencies and follow them to a logical conclusion.
In his remark, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Adeyemo stated that exemption of rape victims from payment would afford parents the opportunity to report such incidents, thereby ensuring the protection of the best interest of the girl child.
Furthermore, the Deputy Speaker, Barr. Abdulwasi Musah, noted that it was imperative for medical practitioners to safely keep the record of rape victims so as not to discourage reportage of such cases.
In his own comments, Hon. Muideen Olagunju representing Oyo East/Oyo West State constituency urged the Oyo State government to give full effect to the provisions of the state’s Child Rights Law.
Packaged by Feyisayo Oladiipo
