Health Sciences Staff Encouraged to Act Against GBV

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In order to educate staff and empower them to speak out and take action against gender-based-violence (GBV), the College of Health Sciences organised three Domestic Violence Educational workshops presented by attorney Ms Nilesthra Padayachee of the Durban law firm, Booysen and Co.

The workshops formed part of the College’s strategic drive to: Grow Our People.

According to Padayachee, in South Africa 80% of victims know the offender who is often either a close friend or family member, one in every four women are either raped or sexually assaulted in their lifetime, three women are killed daily following domestic violence, and only 2% of cases are reported.

‘Break the silence to eradicate this scourge of physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse’, said Padayachee.

‘The Domestic Violence Act was promulgated 11 years ago but despite the protection it affords victims, from a legal standpoint, we are not anywhere close to eliminating domestic violence.’

The audience heard that the first step was to obtain a protection order against the abuser. People could also apply for an interim protection order on behalf of a victim but only with their written consent. In a household, it is possible to apply for a protection order against a partner/spouse and still remain in the same household with the order stipulating specific boundaries.

Professor Mergan Naidoo of the Discipline of Family Medicine spoke on behalf of healthcare professionals in the audience asking: ‘How does a healthcare provider advocate for one’s patient who is the victim of domestic violence and also how can we contribute to changing the culture of violence in our country at grassroots level?’

Padayachee said GBV was a humanitarian issue and as such healthcare workers and anyone aware of people being abused must speak out and take the necessary action. ‘Men are the biggest perpetrators of violence in society and as such, men must use their voice to end this scourge.’

UKZN’s Head of Physiotherapy Dr Saul Cobbing proposed a men’s forum within his School so that men, both staff and students, could get together to ‘discuss GBV and what we as men can do to change the way we behave. We must not keep quiet,’ he said.

Padayachee ended off by encouraging the audiences to recognise the signs of abuse in victims which include anxiety, panic attacks, depression, suicidal thoughts, isolation and loneliness, and addiction. She suggested that victims should keep a journal and save any evidence they have which could be used in court as evidence.

Professor Johan Van Heerden of the Discipline of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences thanked Padayachee, saying: ‘These type of workshops are extremely helpful, especially since it touches on very pertinent points relatively common in daily civil society. Providing a platform to discuss such topics and allowing staff to voice their concerns is key to working towards eradicating this scourge in our society.’

Words: MaryAnn Francis

Photograph: Supplied