MBUGUA: Integrate HIV and gender-based violence services

Globally, one of every three women has been raped, beaten, or mistreated, usually by a family member or intimate partner. 

According to the Ministry of Health, 98 adolescents in Kenya get infected with HIV daily.

Sexual and other forms of violence have been high and we should be on the lookout pre and post-election.

The ever-rising new HIV infections and GBV cases have been the talk of many counties for a period now.

The two are closely related bedevilling adolescents and young people not forgetting the rampant teenage pregnancy cases.

While GBV can be termed as the root cause, new HIV infections and unplanned pregnancies are detrimental effects.

Therefore it does make a lot of sense to make sure that all programming and designing of interventions should address GBV, new HIV infections, and unplanned pregnancy holistically.

Research shows that GBV is a great barrier to health-seeking pathways.

It limits young people's access to sexual reproductive health services within the medically approved 72 hours of care and treatment seeking.

However, limited or lack of information make GBV survivors delay accessing HIV and other sexual reproductive health services like PEP and emergency contraceptives thus putting them at risk of contracting HIV and getting pregnant.

At the moment the public health facilities offer HIV and GBV services in separate corners and this delays attending to GBV survivors who lose hope moving from one health provider to the other.

Integrating HIV and GBV services in our healthcare facilities will enhance accessibility, affordability and availability of timely care, treatment, and support.

Essentially, the Ministry of Health will get data on documented new HIV infections and unplanned pregnancies due to gender-based violence.

With data and evidence at hand, the Ministry of Health, gender,  education, and Civil society organizations will be able to tailor interventions that alleviate the triple threats.

There is a dire need for a well-coordinated way of ending the triple threat in Kenya because it poses a great danger to the socio-economic posterity of Kenya. 

The strategies for addressing the triple threats should prioritise integrating GBV and HIV services.

GBV is increasingly becoming a catalyst peddling the alarming HIV infections, particularly among adolescent girls and young women in Kenya. 

It calls for a solid healthcare system that is cognizant of how rape and domestic violence shape adolescents' risk for HIV.

The author is the CEO of Angaza Youth Initiative

 

Edited by Kiilu Damaris

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