MHM Magazine

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN WORK WITH US: VISIT: MSF .ORG.ZA/WORK-WITH-US “An honour and a privilege” to support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence Barbara Salano Kerre is a mental health specialist in the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) sexual and gender- based violence (SGBV) recovery centre in Mathare, Kenya. Almost half of Kenyan women aged between 15 and 49 years have experienced physical or sexual violence, and many of them do not seek care. The recovery centre run by MSF in Mathare offers SGBV survivors 24-hour medical and psychosocial care. Being in this position with MSF, we’ve been able to reach a large number of survivors who face many challenges and attend to their medical needs and psychological care. Being part of this team is an honour and a privilege. I love giving and being of service to society. I’ve also been part of the team that has gone to court to o er expert witness testimonials for survivors seeking justice. As a principled professional working with MSF, Barbara’s day-to- day work involves advising a team of about 26 staff, including clinical officers, counsellors, psychologists, social workers, community health educators and hygiene officers dedicated to helping survivors of sexual violence heal. ©Johnstone Vusena ©J o h n s t o n e V u s e n a