Homa Bay county sets up GBV recovery centres

Homa Bay County Health Chief Officer Kevin Osuri (fourth left), GVRC and county officials cut a cake to launch a GBV centre at Mbita Sub-county Hospital. (James Omoro, Standard).

The war against gender-based violence in Homa Bay county received a boost following the establishment of two gender based violence (GBV) recovery centres.

The centres have been constructed at Mbita and Rangwe Sub-county hospitals.

Also referred to as Hope Centers, the facilities will help address GVB cases in the county.

The project was undertaken by Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC) in partnership with the Homa Bay county government.

Victims of GBV will be taken to the centres where they will get care to reduce the adversity of violence.

The centres were opened in a ceremony presided over by Homa Bay county Health Chief Officer Kevin Osuri, his Gender counterpart Dolphin Ochere and GVRC manager in charge of Medical and psycho-social support services, Rebecca Gitau.

Gitau revealed that they started the project to address the gaps in addressing GBV in the county.

She said the centers will help women and teenage girls to overcome GBV as they are more susceptible.

Gitau announced that they had trained healthcare providers and Community Health Promoters on how to address GBV.

“We have put all the necessary measures in place in the fight against GBV and our efforts are bearing fruits, I call on other partners to support the noble initiative," she said.

Dr Osuri was optimistic that the centres will help reduce rampant cases of GBV in Homa Bay.

He said they had posted healthcare providers to the centers to start offering services.

"Our healthcare providers have been posted to man the centers. We expect good services to help reduce GBV and its adversity in the county,” Osuri said.

The Chief Officer called on other organisations to join the county government in the fight against GBV and other health issues.

He urged men who are affected by GBV to visit the centres.

Establishment of the centres brings their number to four in the county after two others were set up at Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital and Makongeni sub-county Hospital in Homa Bay town.