KMTC is safeguarding student’s health and well-being, an analysis by UNESCO reveals
The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) ranks high in safeguarding students’ health and well-being, an analysis by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reveals.
In recent months, the College in partnership with UNESCO launched a 03 Plus Project within the College to educate and empower students on mental health, gender-based violence (GBV), and sexual reproductive health.
Speaking at a breakfast meeting organized by UNESCO on June 2, 2023 to disseminate the results of a situational analysis conducted at KMTC, O3 plus National Programme Officer Ms. Jane Kamau emphasized that much more needs to be done.
“We are committed to ensuring that young people make wise choices by creating an environment that allows them to speak out and seek help when they need it,” she noted.
Adding that, “UNESCO would continue to work closely with the College to ensure youth-friendly services are offered to the students through training and empowering the health service providers within the College.”
CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch expressed his excitement at the involvement of students in the project emphasizing the importance of revolutionizing service delivery at the College with a customer-centric approach.
Drawing inspiration from James Murphy’s book, “The Subconscious Mind,” Dr. Oluoch highlighted the immense power of the mind, stating, “Human beings are what they think about. It is possible for us to create an enabling environment for our students to live up to their full potential. In addition, the CEO highlighted the importance of making the youth aware of the immense power of their minds.”
The partnership seeks to equip young people with the necessary information and tools to make informed decisions, promote well-being, and foster a safe and inclusive environment within the College.
By harnessing the power of technology and education, the program is seeking to deploy RADA app to increase u awareness, reduce stigma, and ensure that students have access to accurate information and resources at their fingertips.
In addition to the development of the RADA app and the comprehensive approach to student empowerment, the KMTC-UNESCO partnership has also undertaken the training of 30 peer-to-peer mentors. The peer-to-peer mentorship program not only facilitates the sharing of information but also helps to create a culture of openness, trust, and mutual support within KMTC. It encourages students to actively engage with their peers, fostering a supportive environment where individuals feel comfortable seeking help and discussing sensitive topics related to mental health, GBV, and sexual reproductive health.
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