By: Sulayman Waan
The Network against Gender Based Violence (NGBV) four –day training of Health personnel on the revised guideline of clinical management of gender based violence (GBV) cases is currently ongoing at NaNA conference hall; funded by Amplify Change through AATG.
The 4 day training brought together 30 health personnel includes medical doctors and nurses from RVTH, Bansang, and Kanifing General Hospitals among others. It aims at training the participants on gender base violence (GBV) issues to ensure they manage, care, and treat GBV cases in the country.
In his opening statement, Fallou Sowe, national coordinator described the training as another milestone to combat GBV in the country to ensure the wellbeing of Gambian women.
In 2013 the network Against Gender Based Violence in collaboration with the Finise Foreign Ministry and the Gambia government particularly the Ministry of Health developed a clinical guideline for the management of GBV in the Gambia.
However, Mr. Sowe said producing this guideline document was a great achievement for the country’s development because it was the first time the country’s health personnel have a guideline that support them in managing GBV cases.
“Before each of the health personnel used to manage GBV case in the manner they think is should be done but there was no guideline that helps them in managing GBV cases in a uniform manner,” he said.
He added: “These 30 health professional will benefit from the training to help them to learn more on dealing with GBV cases, especially cases related to sexual violence.”
Mr. Sowe said health personnel are the first care providers to face victims of GBV, nothing these victims required both medical and psychosocially support anytime they visit health facilities.
He said the guideline is critical in bringing a uniform during management of GBV violence cases and most importantly it helps in gathering evidence that would support officials in prosecuting GBV perpetrators such as rapists.
“Prosecutors would need your (healthcare workers) help in providing much needed evidence to collaborate with the evidences they collected in their investigation to prove beyond any doubt that the perpetrators are responsible for the violence against women and girls,” Sowe stated.
He added: “Just having one evident you (prosecutors) can’t prove rape, so is important they have your medical report.”
He expressed gratitude to the ministry of Health for partnering with the network, while commended Amplify Change for funding the activity.
Halimatou Jallow, NGBV programme manager said: “Capacity is a major challenge, especially in service delivery. Therefore, it’s one of our strategies to train you (healthcare workers) so that you would be able to give better care to GBV cases.”
However, she noted that gender based violence happens in various places in the society citing homes, working places and schools and culture of silent is affecting GBV in the society.
Dr. Momodou T. Nyassi, health experts described GBV as public health challenge affecting women across the globe, however, he was quick to added it as well affects men indirectly because when their wives, sisters or female children are domestically or sexually affected obviously they are affected.