A Nakuru-based NGO Midrift Human Rights Network has certified 36 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) after undergoing training in a programme dubbed ‘Problem Management Plus’(PM+) towards offering psycho-social support to Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) survivors.
The training was undertaken by Dignity, a Danish Institute Against Torture in partnership with the NGO.
The CHVs from Nakuru Town West and Naivasha sub-counties will now help in offering psychological help for adults in communities exposed to adversity.
The training was prompted by research carried out in Naivasha’s Karagita as well as Rhonda informal settlements in Nakuru West Sub-County that revealed several gaps in terms of addressing the psychological problems that emanate from gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls.
According to Midrift Human rights network, the overall goal of the project is to strengthen the access to healing for survivors of SGBV in Nakuru and Naivasha through community-based psycho-social intervention.
Speaking in Nakuru on Monday during a presentation of certificates to the CHVs, Midrift Hurinet CEO Joseph Omondi lauded the project saying already the fruits are being felt.
"The CHVs have a great role in transforming the society and as MIDRIFT we shall continue to partner on the same," said Omondi.
He urged the county government of Nakuru to bring on board CHVs in the budgetary process so as to address the challenge that has been there of low budgetary allocation for mental health.
This, he says, will help ensure that matters SGBV at grassroots have a budget to cater for.
"These CHVs have interacted with people at the society level and are in the know-how. The county should include them in budget matters," said Omondi.
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