Evans Otieno
Program Officer coordinating Global Fund HIV Program in Migori and Siaya Counties.
Title: Beyond words: Advancing solutions for gender-based violence and empowering women and girls
Biography
Biography: Evans Otieno
Abstract
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a widespread practice in the Kuria community of Kenya, where it is seen as a rite of passage for girls. Despite being outlawed by the Kenyan government, it remains deeply ingrained in the culture and is often perpetuated by harmful social norms and attitudes. FGM can have severe physical and psychological consequences for girls and women, including infections, complications during childbirth, and psychological trauma. To address this issue, CMMB, in partnership with a licensed psychologist, designed a program to provide mental health messages and support to girls at risk of FGM in the Kuria community.The program provided mental health messages and support to 500 girls in the Kuria community through interactive sessions facilitated by the licensed psychologist. The girls were educated about the negative psychological and emotional impacts of FGM, including anxiety, depression, and trauma. The psychologist provided individual and group counseling to help the girls cope with any psychological and emotional impacts of the practice. The program aimed to challenge the harmful social norms and attitudes that underpin the practice of FGM by promoting mental health as a human right and fostering community support for survivors. The program is an innovative approach to reducing the prevalence of FGM in the Kuria community. By providing mental health messages and support to girls at risk of FGM, CMMB aims to contribute to the prevention of FGM and support survivors. The individual and group counseling sessions facilitated by the licensed psychologist are a crucial component of the program, providing girls with the tools to cope with the psychological and emotional impacts of the practice.