Local News

Health workers advised on gender violence

HEALTH stakeholders in Ilala municipality have called for serious implementation of laws and policies that address gender issue as researches show that the existing laws and policies were not fully  enforced. 

Speaking during a one-day meeting on GBV research dissemination held in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday , the stakeholders said that the existing laws and policies were not effective in fighting GBV. 

Disseminating the findings on factors contributing to GBV in Kitunda ward in Ilala municipality, Ms Lydia Mwabukusi, who doubles as principal GBV investigator and activist, said that about 50 per cent of those who reported GBV cases did not notice any changes.  She said that community awareness and education were vital in ensuring that violence was fought. 

“We have found that many people lack education on GBV, this of course, is a setback to our initiatives of fighting the problem,” she said, appealing to NGOs, government and other stakeholders to join forces in educating the society on GBV. GBV in Ilala municipality is high and women are the most affected group as evidenced by 2010 statistics from the Voluntary Counselling and Testing and Laboratory department at Amana Hospital. 

“The report on violence shows that 72% of all GBV cases in 2009 from Amana hospital were reported by women and in 2010 women who reported were 67%,” Ms Mwabukusi noted. She said that the factors contributing to under-reporting GBV is fear of retribution, shame, powerlessness, lack of confidentiality and unreliability of public services. 

Responding to claims, the laws and policies were insufficiently enforced, the policewoman Jane Kira said that the police have established a special desk to deal with GBV issues.