A sensitisation workshop on the prevalence of Gender-Based Violence in Turkana County today revealed that the county needs to step-up measures to curtail the vice.
The Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health, Janerose Tioko, revealed that between 2020 and 2023, Turkana recorded 1,657 GBV cases according to the Kenya Health Information System (KHIS).
Further, according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS 2023), 42% of women aged 15-49 in Turkana have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, compared to the national average of 34%. Additionally, 11% of women in this age group reported experiencing sexual violence, she said.
She noted that the sensitization workshop is part of the COVID-19 Health Emergency Response Project supported by World Bank Group.
The workshop mounted by the Department of Health Services and Sanitation
Health officials in Turkana County focused on Gender-Based violence (GBV) policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures in order to curtail the vice in the expansive county.
A member of the National Trainer of Trainers from the Ministry of Health, Rose Waruguru, emphasised the government’s commitment to providing comprehensive services to GBV survivors.
“As national GBV leadership, we aim to excel in service provision, ensuring that survivors receive all necessary care at no cost and through a one-stop approach,” she stated.
During the workshop, CHMT officials reviewed the county’s GBV situation compared to national data from the Kenya Health Information System and KDHS 2022.
The session was attended by Dr Ezekiel Etelej, County Chief Officer for Medical Services, among other.
By Peter Gitonga
