A new gender-based violence recovery centre has been opened at the Busia County Referral Hospital to address the plight of victims and bring services closer to the people.
The centre was opened by EAC Principal Secretary Kevit Desai on Tuesday.
Desai said the centre will be a link for prevention, awareness creation and coordination.
"All efforts are to ensure stakeholders contribute and make the centre we have launched a more networked system to deal with issues related to gender-based violence,” Desaid said.
Busia Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi thanked Master Card Foundation and other stakeholders for their efforts in setting up the centre.
"By identifying this critical sector particularly GBV as a subject matter, we know that you are dealing with challenges that have been swept under the table for a long time in this country," Mulomi said.
Mulomi who is the acting health executive said the county government will establish a 10-bed capacity ward to handle GBV cases.
He said 99 cases of GBV have been reported at the centre since its inception in September last year.
State Department for Gender director Protus Onyango said the centre will augment the services of various service providers in the response mechanism in addressing the needs of GBV survivors.
"Busia Gender Violence Recovery Centre is now one of the few centres across the country including Nairobi Women Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, Kilifi County Referral Hospital, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital and Makueni Referral Hospital.”
Onyango was concerned that Busia county is among the top four in prevalence of GBV cases, with defilement the most reported offence.
Edited by P.O
