The Taita Taveta government is looking for more partners to support the fight against gender-based violence in the county.
GBV county coordinator in the health services department Violet Mwamburi said the county wants to enhance GBV sensitisation, prevention and response programmes.
She spoke during a GBV multi-sectoral meeting in Voi on Wednesday that brought together officials from NASCOP, USAID Stawisha Pwani and other stakeholders.
“Bringing more stakeholders on board will ensure that sensitisation campaigns against GBV are intensified. These are among the strategies we are using to end the cases,” Mwamburi said.
She said the department is training more healthcare workers to handle GBV survivors.
“The department is mandated to do more clinical management towards the response of GBV survivors hence the need to train more healthcare workers. This will strengthen referral pathways for the survivors,” Mwamburi said.
Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services county director Wallace Mwaluma said it is important to include mental health in the fight against GBV.
He said most survivors are traumatised and needed counselling and other mental health support.
“Victims who have experienced GBV suffer from trauma. Psychologists and counsellors ought to be brought on board in the awareness programmes going forward,” Mwaluma said.
Mwaluma said the meeting discussed issues of existing policies including sexual and gender-based violence, child welfare and protection, youth welfare and empowerment policies.
Others include new HIV infections and teenage pregnancies.
“We have agreed to improve on reporting through Kenya Health Information Systems, lobby for county allocation of budgets towards GBV, the establishment of GBV rescue centres, safe spaces and GBV recovery centres,” the director said.
Edited by A.N