COMMUNITY Development and Social Services Minister Doreen Mwamba says the 13 young women rescued from captivity in Lusaka recently, have been reintegrated into their families.
In a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday, Ms Mwamba said the 13 underwent psychosocial and mental therapy under the auspices of social welfare officers and mental health practitioners from October 7 to 14, 2022 in a designated place of safety.
“The families of the young women who also underwent counseling, were at hand to receive the survivors in their custody and have since travelled back to their respective areas,” Ms Mwamba said.
First Lady Mutinta and Vice-President WK M their role in the rehabil warm interactions with She thanked President Hakainde Hichilema, First Lady Mutinta and Vice-President WK Mutale-Nalumango, for their role in the rehabilitation process and the warm interactions with the survivors.
Ms Mwamba said the ministry, working in close collaboration with the ministries of Health, Education and Gender Division, were mooting out specific interventions to ensure that the young women transitioned back into the education system in a better environment.
“Care plans for each survivor have been developed based on the identified mental health and social economic needs. The young women will continue with the counseling services within their localities and referrals to responsible institutions have already been made,” she said.
Ms Mwamba urged the public to support the rehabilitation process of the survivors as they were now integrated back into society. She said members of the public should avoid stigmatisation and victimisation of the young women but render a supporting hand.
“The ministry also wishes to caution parents and guardians to exercise parental responsibility especially on the girl child and prevent any form of abuse in all settings including boarding houses. The general public is also urged to report any incidences of abuse and help the authorities to curb such vices in society,” Ms Mwamba said.
She said the ministry would strengthen collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in ensuring that boarding houses were licensed and regularly inspected in order to provide a healthy and secure environment where students thrived and achieved their goals.
