Lobbyists Raise Concern on Safe Houses Insufficiency

Colllaboration of Women In Development lobbysts Tom Ng'ar at a recent function. Image (Courtesy)

By PETER KOMBE

Lobbyists in Mombasa county working on gender based violence in Mombasa County have raised concern on the insufficiency of safe houses for victims of sexual gender based violence. SGBV

According to the lobbyists of all the 47 counties, only one county has erected ample safe houses for sexually abused victims.

Speaking to the media In Mombasa during   a review meeting for Ending Double Tragedy project in a Mombasa hotel, Collaboration on Women in Development Executive Director Batty Sharon said SGBV cases of became rampant during the lockdown period due to the stay at home order by government.

According to her the government provide all the essential services during the covid19 period and left out some of the basic including delivery of services to sexually violated victims.

“The government concentrated on other essential services such as water, foodstuff among other and forgot about the provision of essential services such as the victims of sexual violence,” said Sharon.

 She however cites lack of reporting of sexually violated cases as one of the challenges facing SGBV victims.

The three month report is aimed at reducing the number of cases of SGBV in the six sub counties of Mombasa County.

She applauded the county government of Mombasa saying it is the first county to develop the SGBV policy.

According to her the policy will go a long way in addressing SGBV cases witnessed within the county.

At the same time, Tunaweza Women with Disability Executive Director Charity Chahasi says there is need for the national government to set up proper infrastructure for people with disability.

She wants the national government to train medical staff on sigh language interpretations.

According to her most of the health facilities are not disability friendly.

“We need to see that people with disability enjoy their basic human rights when they go to health facilities. We also should have medical staffs that are trained on sign language,” she noted.

On her part, Doris Ojiambo Collaboration of Women in Development project officer says the program targets young girls aged between the ages of 11 to 17 and those between the ages of 17 and 18.

She adds that the program will be implemented in six sub counties.

At the same time one of the medical staff who spoke on condition of anonymity said some of the medical practitioners are trained on sigh language.

He however notes that the number is still insufficient asking the government to train more of the same.

“Some of us are trained on sign language but the number is still very low,” he noted.

The project dubbed Ending Double Tragedy is sponsored by Urgent action fund in collaboration with Collaboration of Women in Development, Pwani SGBV Network and the county government Mombasa.