Training to enhance health workers’ knowledge on GBV

Kathmandu, May 26

In an effort to increase health workers’ knowledge and skills on GBV and strengthen the health sector’s response to survivors, a ‘Training of Trainers on Competency-based Training on Health Response to Gender-based Violence’ commenced in Lalitpur yesterday.

A total of 12 participants from four far-western districts — Achham, Bajhang, Baitadi and Bajura — are participating in the seven-day training organised by National Health Training Center under the Ministry of Health with support from the Embassy of Norway and United Nations Population Fund.

Among other things, the trainees will learn about how to identify GBV cases, conduct clinical assessments of survivors, provide psychosocial first aid, collect evidence and refer survivors for legal, police, counselling and shelter services.

This training will be followed by a competency-based on-the-job training and a blended learning which is proving effective and has been adopted by NHTC as a good practice, according to the organisers. During the last one year alone, a total of 266 health workers have been trained on GBV.

Health facilities are often said to the first responding agencies when it comes to dealing with survivors of gender-based violence. A new UNFPA assessment carried out in the four far-western districts shows that only 33 per cent of health service providers are aware of different forms of violence and know that GBV survivors should be referred to shelters, counselling centres, police, and specialised medical facilities to provide them with essential services.

In order to help improve access to quality services and provide support to GBV survivors through multi-sectoral partnerships, the MoH has expanded ‘One Stop Crisis Management Centers’ to 29 hospitals to date and is planning to establish additional ones in near future.

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