Hotline and WhatsApp numbers launched to fight GBV, teen pregnancies in Homa Bay

Strides have been made in the fight against gender-based violence and teen pregnancies in Homa Bay following the introduction of helpline numbers to curb them.

An organization Zana Africa in partnership with the Homa Bay government launched a hotline number and WhatsApp chatbot where residents can forward their cases of human rights violation for help.

The new initiative is considered one of the solutions to eradicating gender-based violence in Homa Bay.

Zana Africa chief executive officer Megan Mukuria and Homa Bay Gender & Youth Affairs Sarah Malit, her chief officer Dolphin Ochere said the platforms will enable residents to share their problems with confidence.

Under a programme dubbed Nia Health Link, the gender defenders said they came up with such initiatives after studies on challenges affecting women and girls in the county.

Zana Africa conducted a rapid assessment through focus group discussions on knowledge, attitude and perception of the community on school-going children regarding the implementation of a hotline and a WhatsApp chatbot.

Adolescents in confidentiality will get their issues addressed as they seek help by asking questions involving sexual and reproductive health.

Anyone can call the hotline number and lodge a complaint before being referred to the relevant agency.

 Questions can also be asked on the WhatsApp chatbot and answers provided instantly.

Speaking during the launch of this year’s 16 days activism of against GBV against women and girls in Homa Bay town, Mukuria said her organisation will strive to provide answers to questions being asked and solutions to problems people face in society.

“The system operates on a 24-hour basis to help people. If your problem is not addressed immediately, it is possible for us to call later and offer a solution,” Mukuria said.

The helpline numbers are going to be put in public places to ease communication.

WhatsApp number requires an internet for enabled mobile phone and data.

Nia Health Link programmes manager Alice Onsarigo said they want to help adolescents navigate through the puberty stage.

The platform will help them discuss issues like reproductive health, sexuality, mental health, consent and any other issues affecting them.

She said operators assigned to answer questions are trained and can answer questions about sexual reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, and puberty, among other issues.

“Clients can always seek help by making calls to the number and get appropriate response. We’re able to provide referrals,” Onsarigo said.

During their assessment, Onsarigo said some teenage girls who shared their ordeal before they developed revealed that they did not have information about some of the issues the platform seeks to address.

Onsarigo said a lot of people are in the same predicament and are afraid of reporting their cases because of stigma.

 A similar system is used in Kiambu, Kilifi and Nairobi to address such challenges adolescent girls face.

“Through collaboration, we’re hopeful the programme will expand to cover all the 47 counties so that Kenyan women and girls can get help,” Onsarigo said.

Community Aids Transformation Alliance Group (Catag) officer Basra Dahir and Breakthrough Action director Jane Akech argued that a lot of women are suffering in silence in the county because of stigma.

 She said the platform will enable the women to air their plight and get help.

“We have intensified sensitization programmes to empower teenage girls and young women to speak up for their rights,” Dahir said.

Homa Bay government has already launched a Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) policy to enhance the fight against gender violence.

The county Gender& Youth Affairs executive member Sarah Malit asked residents to get ready to engage as a community to succeed in the fight.

“The society must have a candid dialogue to help us address SGBVs. Violence is against human rights worldwide and we must take the initiative to stop it,” Malit said.

Akech called for concerted efforts for the prevention and elimination of violence among women and girls.

“Working together will ensure we reduce cases of teenage pregnancies and new HIV infections in Homa Bay,” Akech said.

 Among the champions leading the fight against GBV in the county are Millicent Kwamboka (Young Advisory Council for Health) and Caroline Owidhi (Homa Bay Women's league).

They undertake community engagement where they meet with young people.

 “We meet weekly with youths and discuss self-care. We have since witnessed people opening up about their challenges as they get helped,” Kwamboka said.

Owidhi called on men to come up and share their ordeal as well.

“We have realized that men are also suffering but they fear opening up. Let them use the platform to report their cases to get helped,” Owidhi said.