The Ministry of Health has taken up the challenge to ensure that issues pertaining to Violence against Women (VAW) and girls are addressed through the health care system.
This was revealed by the Hon. Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services, Mrs Veena Bhatnagar while opening the first consultative meeting on the Guidelines for Health Care Workers on, “Responding to Intimate partner Violence and Sexual Violence against Women” recently.
“Globally it is estimated that 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime,” Mrs Bhatnagar said.
World Health Organisation’s survey in 2013 reports that approximately 30 per cent of women who have been in a relationship have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence by their partner.
“It is estimated that the prevalence of lifetime intimate partner violence and sexual violence in the Pacific ranges between 60-80 per cent.
“I must applaud the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre for carrying out a national survey on VAW and girls which has opened up the eyes of many to see the reality.”
Mrs Bhatnagar highlighted that 44 per cent or more than two in in five ever-partnered women have been punched, kicked, dragged, beaten up, choked, burned, threatened with a weapon, or actually had a weapon used against them.
The Assistant Minister acknowledged the support and technical assistance by the United Nationals Population Fund towards the development of Fiji’s first guidelines on addressing violence against women.
Fiji Police Force medical officer, Bale Kurabui said there was a need for stakeholders to establish ways to channel survivors of gender based violence towards the police station to be registered before getting a medical examination done.