Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
GWANDA Provincial Hospital’s one-stop centre, which is dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual abuse and gender-based violence (GBV), is forced to send some survivors back to the same environment where they meet their perpetrators due to lack of a safe shelter.
The nearest safe shelter is in Umzingwane district, about 70 kilometres from Gwanda. The Gwanda Provincial Hospital one-stop centre was established in 2016. It offers legal and psychosocial support to victims. Most of the centre’s clients are from the rural areas
One-stop centres were established to ensure access to quality and comprehensive services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence under one roof. They offer health services, legal advice and protection services through the police victim-friendly units and counselling services.
Other complimentary services come from the Department of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. Speaking yesterday during the Matabeleland South provincial second quarter gender-based violence co-ordination meeting, Matabeleland South provincial development coordinator in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Ms Majorie Sikhundla said one-stop centres are necessary to ensure clients have access to a complete package.
She said after experiencing the trauma of being abused, it is not ideal for survivors to continue living in the same environment as the perpetrators, especially in cases when they were related.”One-stop centres alone are not enough. Some of the perpetrators of these cases are people who are related to the survivors and live with them.
Some of these perpetrators can be granted bail pending trial and it wouldn’t be ideal for the survivor to go back and live in that toxic environment,” said Ms Sikhundla.”There is a need for a safe shelter where survivors that are received at the one-stop centre can be housed while they heal.
After a survivor has been offered services at the one-stop centre they can be sent to the safe shelters if the environment at home isn’t conducive.” Ms Sikhundla said there is a need for land to be made available and resources allocated towards establishing a safe shelter at the one-stop centre.
She also called on development partners to assist in establishing a safe shelter. Ms Sikhundla said the one-stop centre is playing a crucial role in mitigating the effects of gender-based violence and sexual violence within communities.
She urged stakeholders to raise awareness on the existence of the centre.
“The one-stop centre has helped to improve access to basic health and legal support for children and adult survivors of gender-based violence,” said Ms Sikhundla. It has also enabled victims to access psychosocial support and empowered them through skills training.–@DubeMatutu
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