Homa Bay has continued its war against Gender Based Violence (GBV) after the county got a fourth clinic to handle such cases.
Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC) on Saturday established two more clinics at Mbita and Rangwe Sub-county hospitals, and also held sporting activities for the youth.
Health Chief Officer Kevin Osuri, Gender Executive Dolphin Ochere and GVRC manager in charge of Medical and Psychosocial Support services Rebecca Gitau said the new units will help in addressing the triple threat.
“Homa Bay government has already posted nurses to the new stations to start serving people. We want triple threat cases to get reported immediately for address,” Osuri said.
While noting that there is a misconception that men cannot be victims of GBV, Osuri urged men to stop suffering in silence and instead come out and defend their rights.
“The county government has procured a boat ambulance which will ferry patients from Lake Victoria islands to the unit in Mbita. Let residents collaborate to end the vices,” he added.
The ambulance will help carry survivors of gender violence, among other patients. Some of the services that will be offered at the centres include counselling.
Establishing the centres came after GVRC realised there was a gap in addressing gender issues in Homa Bay, Gitau said.
The centres exist to fight vices such as teenage pregnancies, defilement and GBV which are on the rise in Homa Bay.
“Trained health care providers and community health promoters are in the frontline to address gender violence. The efforts are bearing fruits,” the GVRC manager said.
For seven years, GVRC in collaboration with likeminded organisations has assisted women and teenage girls by having their cases handed at the centres and not at the general ward.
Gitau called on other partners to support the newly opened hope centres.
The other two centres are Hope Centre located at the Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital, and Makongeni Sub-county hospital in Homa Bay town.
Homa Bay urban zone Curriculum Supports Director Jacob Dola said engaging the adolescents in sporting activities assisted in identifying and nurturing talents, besides keeping the triple threat at bay.
He urged youth to report cases of molestation.
“Sodomy and lesbianism are reported to have been increasing when schools are closed because the adolescents loiter around. Sporting activities help us address the vices,” Dola said
Mbita Assistant County Commissioner Neema Weche urged residents not to sit on such cases. She said some families collude with perpetrators to cover up cases especially where incest is involved.
“Let residents pull up their socks and ensure they help other agencies including the police in ensuring victims get justice,” Weche said.
