“A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members.”
This quote, by Pope John Paul II, is how Life Roseacres Hospital psychologist Dr Liezel Anguelova opened her presentation during her recent visit to Laerskool Die President.
Anguelova visited the school to speak to the school’s teachers and empower them with knowledge on sexual, physical and emotional child abuse.
“There are three types of abuse — physical, emotional and sexual,” she said.
“Physical abuse constitutes any action against the child that causes physical harm, while sexual abuse is divided into contact and interaction and emotional abuse into six forms; rejecting, ignoring, terrorising, isolating, corrupting and exploiting.”
Anguelova delved into each form of abuse in more detail, giving teachers signs to look out for, as well as discussing the effects of each form of abuse on the child.
“The effects or symptoms experienced in each case vary and can affect the child physically, neurologically, psychologically, behaviourally, cognitively, socially and spiritually,” she said.
The teachers were given a list of numbers to assist them in reporting suspected child abuse.
The numbers are:
- Child social services: 0800 60 10 11
- Childline: 08000 55 555
- SAPS: 10111/08600 10 111
- Human trafficking: 0800 555 999
- Lifeline: 0800 055 555
- Child Emergency Line: 0800 123 321
- Child Welfare SA: 086 142 4453
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