A four days training to enhance capacity of Central Islands Province Health care workers and stakeholders to effectively respond to violence against women and children has come to a successful close.
As part of the training participants were refreshed on key concepts of gender-based violence such as gender and sex role, power and control, human rights, consent and consequences of violence.
Links of violence to personal health problems, role of health care providers as mandated by law (Family Protection Act) and existing policies of the Ministry of Health were also covered.
Training participant, Albert Vure, a registered nurse at the Belaga clinic, northern side of small Ngella Island described the training as very useful.
“I can now better identify victims of GBV and violence against children and how I can effectively provide health care services to them together with other stakeholders such as the police.”
Mr. Nashley Vozoto, Gender Based Violence, National Coordinator, Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) explained that though costly, conducting training at the provincial level for these health workers who not only work but also resides in the rural and remote communities is critical towards effective provision of health care services for victims of GBV and violence against children.
“With the training I trust our nurses deliver quality GBV services to the people of Central Islands Province and contribute well to the overall national efforts to provide quality health care service to victims of GBV”, said Mr. Vozoto.
Dr. Lesly Bunabo, Tulagi Hospital Supervising Health Director, at the closing of the training thank the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and World Bank for the funding support that enabled the training.
Improving GBV services is aligned to component #2 of the ongoing World Bank Funded COVID-19 response and health system strengthening project that supports health systems strengthening activities to ensure continuity of delivery of critical health services and to cope with the surge in demand for care posed by COVID-19.
The MHMS GBV team will conduct similar training for Guadalcanal Province towards the end of June and as per tentative schedule all other provinces in the send half of 2023.
Source: Press Release, Ministry of Health and Medical Services