Prof. Lisa Obimbo

Professor of Paediatrics

Chairperson, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health School of Medicine, University of Nairobi

Consultant Paediatrician, Kenyatta National Hospital

I hereby wish to provide my support for the GBV Charitable Trust , and am writing in my capacity as a Consultant Paediatrician, and Chair of the Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine of the University of Nairobi. During the course of my career as a Paediatrician I have repeatedly handled children who have been admitted to the National Teaching and Referral hospital (Kenyatta National Hospital) with injuries and/or illness related to physical or sexual abuse, or extreme neglect. Unfortunately with rising poverty and societal stress we continue to see these cases at the Kenyatta National Hospital and in other hospitals around the country, some of whom are handled in paediatric wards, others are handled through the gender based violence unit. After their initial hospital care, such children need continued psycho-social care and support, sometimes with continued home treatment, either in a safe children’s home as placed by the GOK children’s department if the family / home situation has not yet been corrected or made safe. Provision of this continued care has a positive impact on their long-term psychological and physical outcomes.

The GBV Charitable Trust Group and its local registered initiatives across Kenya provide the post-operative care and Trauma recovery that is unavailable in Kenya. The work of this organisation is instrumental in breaking the cycles of abuse. After spending time in the safe houses with the children and their nursing staff, I can confirm that the care being provided is world class and so greatly needed.

Currently there is lack of centres in Kenya that would provide immediate continued care after hospital discharge for the subset of children who have had more severe insults. Having studied the vision and mission of this Trust and its local initiatives, as well as their experience so far in supporting such care in registered children’s homes to which such children have been placed, I can declare that their work is operating legally, and his highly beneficial to our children. I have made many visits to their projects since 2015 and the children are thriving. This is a wonderful program and organisation that protects, rehabilitates and advocates for the children long term.