NGO training Malawi cops to curb HIV/Aids, gender-based violence

Theatre for a Change (TfAC), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), with financial support from Concern World Wide has started engaging Malawi police officers from various districts across the country to a trainer of trainers training (TOT) where it is teaching them areas of HIV/Aids, Gender- Based Violence, child protection and human rights.

Speaking after the commencement of the five-day long training recently in Mangochi, TFAC Education Programme Manager, Joanna Seth Smith said the training focused on equipping police trainers from police training institutions with innovative and interactive methodology that will enable them to deliver the topics of HIV/Aids, Gender-Based Violence, child protection and human rights issues effectively.

“Police officers are among the most risk people to get HIV/Aids due to various temptations they are exposed to. When officers pass out of the training school and join the mainstream policing they face a lot of challenges that sometimes facilitate abuse of human rights, gender-based violence and disrespecting child rights and these issues are related to HIV infection,” said Smith.

She expressed optimism that the training was significant as it would mark the beginning of new strategic effort in the Malawi police service as the people trained would raise their tentacles to train others including recruits graduating from training schools.

Smith added that TFAC envisions a world where people are not discriminated against due to their health status and it also ensures that sexual and reproductive health of the vulnerable and marginalized are improved.

In his remarks, Commissioner of Police for Eastern Region, Wilson Matinga hailed TFAC for the training saying it would help to fight HIV/Aids, GBV and other social ills within the Malawi Police Service that have reared ugly faces.

Sharing is caring!