Provision of GBV/VAC services in Bagamoyo District Council

THPS Enhances GBV/VAC services in Bagamoyo District Council

THPS Enhances GBV/VAC services in Bagamoyo District Council

Champion District’s Social Welfare Officer leads prevention of GBV

Bagamoyo District Council’s social welfare department through collaboration with Bagamoyo Police Gender desk’s office and other stakeholders has created awareness on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Children (VAC) among community members in Bagamoyo District. From January 2019 to August 2020 a total of 547 GBV and VAC cases were reported, of which 28 were sexual violence and 519 were physical and/or emotional violence (DHIS 2).

Bagamoyo District’s Social Welfare Officer, Mr. Ubwa Yassin acknowledged THPS’s support in enhancing his skills on dealing with GBV/VAC issues that has contributed to increased number of GBV/VAC cases reported.

“I am so thankful to receiving THPS supported training on GBV and VAC that has added my skills in identification and effectively attending to these cases.

Currently, our social welfare office has a good linkage between Bagamoyo District Hospital’s Out Patient Department (OPD), Reproductive and Child Health (RCH), Care and Treatment Clinic (CTC) and Laboratory departments through which whenever a patient visits our hospital showing signs of being a victim to GBV/VAC, the health service providers refer him/her to our office for further consultation prior to getting other health services. This was one of the tactics that I learned through THPS supported trainings. This has contributed much to an increase in reported GBV and VAC cases.” Proudly explained Mr. Yassin.

Mr. Yassin added that the social welfare department office also closely works with the Police Gender desk office at Bagamoyo District’s Police Station and hence whenever any GBV or VAC case is reported, the Police officers at the gender desk report it to the social welfare officers and sometimes refer the victims to them for further follow up on the cases.

FO, is among the Victims of GBV identified through linkages with the hospital’s OPD. She visited Bagamoyo DH for treatment on September 2020 after being beaten by her husband, she was directed by the OPD health attendant to visit the social welfare’s office for consultation and legal services linkage support.

She further explained that they separated with her husband six months ago and when she visited her husband’s house to see their children, her husband physically assaulted her saying that she is not supposed to visit the children as she is no longer living with him. This attack resulted in facial and back injuries.

Explaining on the services provided to FO, Bagamoyo’s Social Welfare Officer, Mr. Yassin said, “I have given a letter of call to FO’s husband so that we can sit with them and seek reconciliation among them and help her to have the rights to visiting her children. If this does not work, our office will refer her to the court for legal procedures to be followed.

Our office has also ensured FO has been well attended by the health practitioners in a faster manner so that she gets ample time for relaxation and psychological relief after our counselling session.”

2. Prevention of Violence Against Children

WH is a boy aged 12 years, living in Bagamoyo town and a victim of VAC. For over two years, he has been repeatedly raped by four different men, all motorcycle riders at Bagamoyo town. He lives with his grandparents and studies in grade six at a nearby Primary school. Several times when going or coming back from school these motorcycle riders have been rapping him in the school toilet and one of unfinished houses in the suburb.

Her grandmother realized what he was going through in September, 2020 and reported the case at Bagamoyo District Police station. While at the police station she was referred to the Police gender desk’s office and the Police Officer at this desk started investigating the reported VAC case. The case was also reported to the district’s social welfare office through which they started following up on it.

Explaining on the steps taken by Bagamoyo district’s social welfare office, the social welfare officer Mr. Yassin said, “our office in collaboration with police gender desk’s office are making a follow up on this case to ensure all the victims are brought into court for law enforcement. We have also started providing counselling services to WH so that he stops this behavior and become psychologically relieved.”

WH’s grandmother acknowledged the social welfare officer and the police officer responsible for GBV and VAC’s support saying that since she has reported this case, she has seen a higher commitment among them and they have shown a good response towards following up on this case.

While at the hospital, both victims received HIV testing services and they were found to be HIV negative.

THPS has integrated GBV and VAC intervention as part of the comprehensive care and treatment services in Afya Kwanza supported facilities at Pwani region-. Through collaborations with Regional/ Council Health Management Teams(R/CHMTs), People Living with HIV (PLHIV) are equally reached, sensitized, supported and have access to GBV services at the supported health facilities.