The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), in partnership with the Primary Health Care Board, has organised a training programme for 40 newly recruited doctors, drawn from the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas, in a three-day intensive training on Sexual Assault Management Services as part of efforts to ensure continuous capacity development of all responder agencies,
In her welcome address, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said that there is a compelling need to train the newly recruited doctors to effectively respond to issues of sexual assault in their respective Primary Health Centres in the State.
She also reminded health workers of the establishment of the Sexual Intervention Fund, which now makes access to medical services FREE for survivors of domestic and sexual violence at all designated State health facilities.
According to her, the training would expose participants to various topics including Responding to Sexual Assault-Direct Patient Care, Medico-Legal Issues in Management of Sexual Assault as well as the Use of Medical Assessment Tools ranging from Rape Kits and Medical Report Sheets to ensure optimal service delivery.
While noting that this will ultimately facilitate the examination and management of patients after sexual assault, just as it improves the quality and documentation of evidence collection, Vivour-Adeniyi maintained that the training is in furtherance of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s resolve to ensure that all individuals, especially survivors of sexual assault irrespective of their status, are able to receive comprehensive and professional post-assault medical care.
The three-day non-residential training held at the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Ikeja, was facilitated by medical experts such as Dr. Sodipo Oluwajimi (Family Physician, Head Family Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital); Dr. Veronica Iwayemi (Reproductive Rights and Health Focal Officer, Primary Health Care Board) and Mrs. Omotola Rotimi (Legal practitioner and SGBV Expert).