By JASON SOM KAUT
THERE is a yearly increase in the flow of patients seeking medical attention, care and counselling as victims of domestic and social violence in Lae.
These include incidences of child sexual abuse, which make up an alarming 60% of cases each month at the women’s and children’s support centre (WCSC) at the Angau Memorial General Hospital.
The centre is the first to be built at a hospital in the country.
This was revealed by WCSC coordinator Sr Anastasia Wakon, who said patients were coming from all over the Momase and Highlands regions to seek medical attention and counselling at the centre.
“There needs to be more awareness to stem violence against women and children ... culture and religion are not excuses for violence against women and children,” Sr Wakon said.
Saying the number of children facing abuse is increasing, she said: “Many who had been living with the experience for years are also coming in for counselling.”
Sr Wakon said the public was turning a blind eye and urged all to rise up and address the problem.
She also urged parents and caretakers to be very conscious of their children’s safety and who they were allowed to be in contact with.
The WCSC was built in 2003 after a civil society in Lae, in particular Soroptimist International, decided to set up the centre for women and children suffering from domestic and social violence.
The centre functions as a facility for receiving, examining, supporting and caring for victims of sexual and family violence in a professional, caring and confidential manner.
Former national Department of Health secretary Dr Nicholas Mann recently gave directions for all hospitals in the country to set up similar centres amid rising concerns of the increase of violence against women and children.
A source at Angau said the first hospitals identified were Port Moresby General Hospital, Goroka Base Hospital and Kainantu General Hospital.