Over 600 residents of Kisumu County benefit from KELIN’s medico-legal aid clinic

Over 600 Kisumu residents benefited from the medico-legal aid clinic conducted on the 25 August 2017. The activity, which was held at the Jomo Kenyatta sports ground, was a major success basing on the number of Adolescent Girls and Young women (AGYW) and members of public who attended and participated in the various activities. Over 100 clients accessed legal services with 200 receiving medical assistance and close to 180 Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) participating in the event.

The one day clinic was aimed at sensitizing the general public on the plight of adolescent girls and young women in accessing justice for sexual violations. This was informed by the high statistics on rape, defilement and HIV that have been witnessed in the county.

A officer from KMET - a partner at the clinic, attends to a member of the public.
A officer from KMET – a partner at the clinic, attends to a member of the public.

In collaboration with the Judiciary, Reproductive Health Network (RHN), KMET, Gender Violence Recovery Center (GVRC), Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), Kenya Police Service, Lagnet Theatre group and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), a variety of services were offered including;

i. Ultra sound services;

ii. Information on family planning methods;

iii. Cervical cancer screening and treatment;

HIV counseling and testing ;

iii. Information on Pre Exposure Prophylaxis; and

iv. Legal services on land, property, sexual violations, HIV& TB issues among other services.

One of the lessons learnt by KELIN during the activity is the need to have both curative and preventive services offered during the clinic. This would engage more partners in the region and thus facilitate a 360 access to health and justice in one forum.

KELIN Legal team offer legal guidance to a participant at the clinic.
KELIN Legal team offer legal guidance to a participant at the clinic.

In the coming months, KELIN will be conducting a similar medico-legal clinic in Homa Bay County under the DREAMS project in collaboration with more medical and legal organizations to encourage communities to speak up on sexual violations.

To contribute to the discussions on this forum follow KELIN on our social media platforms using the hashtag #Breakingthebarriers

Twitter: @KELINkenya

For more information contact:

Jessica Oluoch

Programme Officer Women, Land & Property Rights

Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)

Aga Khan Road, Milimani Opp Jalaram Academy

P.O Box 7708-40100

Tel +254790 487 475

Email: jolouch@kelinkenya.org