Makueni to get centre to handle domestic violence cases

Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau at a past function. She raised concern over increased cases of domestic violence in the county and said the planned gender violence recovery centre would be useful for Makueni. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The Gender Violence Recovery Centre at the Nairobi Women’s Hospital plans to establish a centre at Makueni County Referral Hospital.

The Gender Violence Recovery Centre at the Nairobi Women’s Hospital has announced a plan to establish a hospital in Wote Town, Makueni County, in partnership with the local government.

The facility will handle domestic violence cases.

TREATMENT

Speaking after a meeting with top county leadership in Wote Town, Mr Albert Wambua, the executive director of The Gender Violence Recovery Centre, said the organisation is ready to develop the facility at the Makueni County Referral Hospital.

“We want to say that we are going to do our part to ensure we have a complete a recovery centre in Makueni County,” Mr Wambua on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau and Makueni County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu.

They welcomed the plan and pledged the government’s full backing.

“I will support the initiative to develop such a recovery centre even as we call for a major campaign against gender violence in this area,” Mr Mbilu said.

GENDER VIOLENCE

Ms Mwau said there are “increasing” cases of gender violence in the county and the centre will be a relief to “the many women who are getting battered and maimed.”

“I am happy that the Nairobi Women Hospital’s Gender Violence Recovery Centre is ready to partner with us in this initiative,” said Ms Mwau.

A gender activist, Ms Mwau said the level of violence against women in the county had increased.

She urged the national government and the police to work with victims to resolve the problem.

She said various county health facilities have recorded a significant number of battered women.

Two weeks ago, Makueni County Commissioner Mohammed Maalim said an increasingly high number of domestic violence cases are reported in the area.