OPEN LETTER TO MR. AKINWUNMI AMBODE, THE GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE –

WE MUST SAVE THE MIRABEL CENTRE NOW.

Dear Sir,

On September 7th, I learnt about a nondescript institution called The Mirabel Centre. The Qatar based global news outlet, Al Jazeera, was responsible for my revelation Mirabel On Aljazeera

The news story reported by Al Jazeera described a rape crisis centre – Mirabel – tucked in 2 rooms at The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja (LASUTH). Established in 2013, Mirabel Centre is run by the Non-Profit, Partnership for Justice and has become a succour to the brutalised and traumatised; a haven and hope restorer.

This is the story of one of the patients at The Mirabel Centre, as reported by Al Jazeera:

“Mercy was six years old when she was raped. One day, she returned from school with three friends. A 17-year-old male cousin had been harassing her, and that night he brought four other men to the house. For Mercy, everything from the moment he began to rape her is a blur.

Her next memory is of waking up in the hospital the following day, and being told what had happened.

All of the girls were raped, possibly multiple times by more than one of the attackers, but Mercy does not know for sure because she blacked out. One of her friends did not survive; another died last year as a result of the injuries she sustained that night. Mercy and one other girl are now the only survivors.

She had to leave school because of the fistula that developed resulting from the attack.”

Sir, The Mirabel Centre has taken on the form of a modern day Mother Theresa, providing charity and free primary care to victims of rape. The centre covers the cost of a victim’s medical tests, anti-HIV medication and counselling.

For 2 years, it has relied on funding from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) for its operations. Now, the funding cycle is about to end and Mirabel will close down without more funds.

For the last few days, private citizens have resolved to never let that happen. They began a social media campaign tagged, #SaveMirabel. Using the crowdfunding platform, GoFundMe, they have raised over N2,000,000 to keep Mirabel’s doors open. Each rape victim is treated at a cost of N10,000, so with these funds, at least 200 lives will be helped. But sir, we need your urgent intervention to help many more.

Therefore, I ask that you kindly extend the influence and authority of your good office towards The Mirabel Centre and specifically request the following:

1. That Lagos State will provide a larger space for The Mirabel Centre and a fully functional testing lab.
2. That you will kindly direct the Lagos State Attorney General’s and Solicitor General’s offices to work with The Mirabel Centre on how Government can help the Centre support more rape survivors.
3. That you will set up a committee to liaise with DFID and other international grant making organisations to extend more funding to Mirabel. In addition, I ask that you pledge on behalf of Lagos State to provide a matching grant of the funds raised.
4. That Lagos State will host and sponsor a fundraising event on behalf of Mirabel Centre so other private citizens may be encouraged to give generously.

Sir, executing these four items will surely give The Mirabel Centre a fighting chance of attaining financial sustainability. According to UNICEF, “One out of every four girls and one out of every ten boys in Nigeria suffers sexual violence.” In addition, 70% of Mirabel’s patients are under the age of 18.

Surely, these indicative statistics show that the continued existence of The Mirabel Centre is an urgent imperative, therefore I appeal for compassion. This is not out of place because my dear State, Lagos, has a long history of compassion. The fact that The Mirabel Centre is hosted by LASUTH is one indication. Lagos State has also pioneered many free health initiatives for citizens and contributed immensely to the wellbeing of orphans and the destitute.

Therefore, I am deeply hopeful that Lagos State will demonstrate its deep care & regard for its citizens once more as well as its continued intolerance for oppression, crime and abuse.

Thank you sir.

Yours Sincerely,

Subomi Plumptre

[Member, Governing Board of Nigeria Leadership Initiative; Member, Executive Committee of Alder Consulting]

Contact Details for The Mirabel Centre

Mrs. Itoro Eze-Anaba

Partnership for Justice

08094000028

Partners@pjnigeria.org