Turkana County Urged to Strengthen Measures Against Gender-Based Violence

A sensitization workshop on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Turkana County has highlighted the urgent need for enhanced measures to combat the rising cases of abuse.

Speaking during the forum, Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health, Janerose Tioko, revealed that the county recorded 1,657 cases of GBV between 2020 and 2023, according to the Kenya Health Information System (KHIS).

She further cited the 2023 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), which indicates that 42 percent of women aged 15-49 in Turkana have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, compared to a national average of 34percent.

Additionally, 11 percent of women in the county reported experiencing sexual violence.

The sensitization workshop is part of the COVID-19 Health Emergency Response Project, supported by the World Bank Group, and was organized by the Department of Health Services and Sanitation.

The training focused on strengthening GBV policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures to enhance prevention and response mechanisms across the county.

A member of the National Trainer of Trainers from the Ministry of Health, Rose Waruguru, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing comprehensive, free, and accessible services to GBV survivors through a one-stop approach.

“As national GBV leadership, we aim to excel in service provision, ensuring that survivors receive all necessary care at no cost,” she stated.

During the workshop, the County Health Management Team (CHMT) reviewed Turkana’s GBV data in comparison to national statistics, seeking strategies to improve intervention measures.