Banja Luka, 8 July 2024 - The Ministry of Health and Social Protection in the Republika Srpska Government, in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), organized the successful training on “Essentials of Andragogy for Training of Trainers on Response of the Republika Srpska Healthcare and Psychosocial Service Providers to Gender-Based Violence”. The training lasted eight days, and was successfully completed by 13 participants of various professions (psychologists, masters of social work, doctors of nursing practice, a speech pathologist - special pedagogue, a psychiatrist, a medical doctor, a doctor of dentistry, a lawyer, a medical technician), from Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Čelinac, Foča, Gradiška, East Novo Sarajevo, Laktaši, Stanari and Zvornik.

The “Women lead the way towards peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina” project, within which the training was provided, is implemented under the auspices of the Peacebuilding Fund of the United Nations Secretary General (PBF), in partnership with the BiH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator in BiH, jointly by the UN Women, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNFPA.
 
The training is aimed at strengthening the capacity of providers of healthcare and psychosocial services, who play an important role in ensuring a multisectoral response to gender-based violence. Through continuous training on the provision of adequate and efficient healthcare and psychosocial services, support is systemically provided to preserving dignity of survivors of gender-based violence and contribution is made to their recovery.

“The goal of this training is for future trainers to continue spreading the acquired knowledge in health institutions throughout the Republika Srpska. The training is a continuation of long-standing cooperation between UNFPA and the Republika Srpska Ministry of Health and Social Protection, aimed at strengthening the capacity of the health sector to provide comprehensive services to victims and survivors of gender-based violence”, said John Kennedy Mosoti, UNFPA Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Amela Lolić, Assistant Minister in the Republika Srpska Ministry of Health and Social Protection, who delivered this training, said: “During the training, we created a warm and positive atmosphere, got to know each other and provided conditions in which everyone had the opportunity to speak in front of the group in an informal environment. The trainers had invested lots of efforts and endeavors, and goodwill to prepare the teaching units that they delivered in the second part of the training. According to the statements provided during the final evaluation, we are all satisfied with the results of the training. One statement reads: “The training was full of 'colors', a pleasant environment, full of warmth, and yet with many details that fit perfectly. I felt surrounded by a wealth of experience and information, in a pleasant way. Thank you!”

In the coming period, UNFPA BiH, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republika Srpska, plans to organize five more training sessions for health workers. The training will be held in Banja Luka for representatives of 20 primary healthcare centers, in Bijeljina for 10, in Doboj for 14, and in Trebinje for 11 centers.