Wajir asked to allocate more funds to fight GBV

The Wajir government has been urged to allocate sufficient resources in the county budget to implement programmes aimed at eliminating  gender-based violence.

The National Council for Population and Development also called for the development of county-specific policies and programmes to address local forms of GBV.

Gender-based violence is any act that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, whether occurring in public or private.

 NCPD Northeastern region coordinator Moses Ouma said violence against women and girls may occur at different points in their lives from prenatal, childhood, adulthood and into old age.

“In the pre-birth stage, battering during pregnancy causes physical and emotional effects on the woman and can affect birth outcome. It also involves pregnancy as a result of rape,” he said.

Ouma spoke during a five-day forum on population policy in Kenya that ended on Thursday.

According to NCPD findings, GBV restricts women’s ability to exercise their reproductive rights, with negative consequences for sexual and reproductive health. It also increases the likelihood of miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth, premature labour and low birth weight.

The NCPD report reveals that pregnancy-related complications are the leading cause of death for 15 to 19-year-old girls worldwide.

To curb GBV, the NCPD said there is need to create awareness on the prevalence and effects of various forms of violence against women.

“There is also a need to monitor and evaluate the programmes for fighting GBV to ensure proper and effective use of the resources allocated for elimination of GBV,” Ouma said.

Edited by A.N