Over 10,000 women will be receiving a range of reproductive health services including cervical cancer screening at this year’s Isis-Women International Cross-Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE) peace exposition to be held in Kotido district.
Addressing a press conference at Parliament, Isis-WICCE’s executive director Ruth Ochieng noted that women who have suffered from various forms of abuse find it difficult to cross the line and join the normal realm of governance and participation.
“Given the history of conflict in Karamoja sub-region, the majority of women and young girls are suffering from a range of reproductive health complications which deny them the chance to participate fully and to enjoy basic human rights and freedoms,” she explained.
She said the exposition, which will be held in partnership with Kotido local government and Nakere rural women peace activists from December 2-10 under the theme ‘Health Families for Peaceful Communities’, will also see resources mobilized to reach out to women and girls in urgent need of help on health issues.
“Most of the survivors of gender-based violence suffer from low esteem, depression, withdraw symptoms and can neither express themselves nor defend their rights. We want, therefore, to bring a smile to their faces,” she said.
Apart from the exposition, Ochieng said, Isis-WICCE will also provide training to a core team of health care personnel in the district to be able to continue offering reproductive services even after the end of the function.
Ochieng, who noted that peace can only happen when the population mainly women and girls are living healthy lives, called upon the Government to double its efforts in funding for health development.
This 4th exposition coincides with the global effort for women rights, known as the 16 day’s activism against gender based violence.
By Umaru Kashaka, The New Vision