Mzimba North district social welfare officer Hellen Simwaka has bemoaned low funding towards gender-based violence (GBV) interventions.

She said this on Tuesday during a GBV panel discussion held in Mzuzu to reflect on the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV observed between November 25 and December 10.

Simwaka said her office receives K300 000 a month but it is insufficient to successfully execute an average of 15 GBV cases they receive monthly.

She said: “The amount is not enough to complete these cases and we would love if government starts allocating at least K2 million each month.

“On several occasions, the district’s social welfare office is the one that receives and handles GBV cases so we invest a lot of monetary resources in a single case.”

Simwaka: We need more funds

SOS Children’s Village Malawi programmes manager George Kondowe said there is need to put more resources in the fight against GBV.

He said: “Progress has been there, but stakeholders need to coordinate and put their resources together so as to promote girls and women’s welfare.

“We must invest more into raising awareness in rural communities where such cases are rampant.”

Mzuzu Police Station community policing coordinator Adson Mapanda said GBV cases have decreased in Mzimba North and Mzuzu City this year.

He said: “Mzimba North and Mzuzu City have registered a decrease in GBV cases from 159 from January to December in 2022 to 121 cases registered within the corresponding period this year.

“This has been possible through different efforts we put to ensure that we eliminate GBV in the district. We conduct awareness in communities, churches and other places.”

The panel discussion involved various stakeholders in the realm of gender and child protection.

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