By Mariam Williams
The Network Against Gender-Based Violence (NGBV) on Wednesday gave medical items worth over D500,000 to nine Hospitals across the country.
The detergents, bleaches, drugs, Gloves and hand sanitisers, inter alia, are meant to support the established “One Stop Centers” in providing treatment and support to survivors of physical and sexual violence.
In his speech at the donation ceremony, Mr. Fallou Sowe, National Coordinator of NGBV, indicated that the items are for the ‘One Stop Centers’ across the country in hospitals like Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), Kanifing General Hospital, Brikama District Hospital and many more hospitals in the country.
According to him, the amount invested in buying the medical items was over half a million dalasi, adding that the medical items would be going to the One Stop Centers established in hospitals in the country to manage the cases of gender-based violence, especially domestic violence.
The anti-gender-based violence crusader went on to state that mostly, women and children are the ones who suffered from these kinds of violence.
National Coordinator Sowe added that they realised an increase in the number of reported cases of sexual and domestic violence, especially against pregnant women at this time-from January to October; so, he lamented that this makes the network becomes very concerned as an institution that is trying to address issues of NGBV in the Gambia. And, with the help of their partners ActionAid International The Gambia and Amplify Change (project), they decided to purchase these items to support the said centers to effectively manage and respond to cases that are coming to the hospitals during the Covid restrictions.
Dr. Babanding Daffeh, GBV Focal Person-One Stop Center at Kanifing General Hospital, also made some remarks at the presentation.
