What to do if you are a victim of sexual assault
Bertha Gxowa Care Centre nurses attracted many locals at Golden Walk Shopping Centre when they set up their brand activation stall about their gender-based violence awareness campaign.
Nurses from Bertha Gxowa Care Centre took to the streets once again, last Tuesday, in efforts to stop the scourge of gender-based violence.
This time the care centre took its gender-based violence awareness campaign to Golden Walk Shopping Centre, one of the busiest shopping centres in the city.
“We purposely chose this day because we knew the mall would be filled with parents and children wrapping up last minute back to school necessities,” said Sr Hazel Moagi, manager of the care centre.
“Our main targets are women, young boys and girls.
“We want locals to know about the services we offer at the centre and know where to go should they become victims of sexual assault or know anyone who may need help.”
On the day, the care centre team approached and attracted bystanders who left the mall educated about the cases they deal with and booklets with contact details of care centres across the East Rand.
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There are six care centres in the metro, four of which are standard care centres, namely, Daveyton Care Centre, Tsakane Care Centre, Far East Rand Care Centre and Bertha Gxowa Care Centre.
These care centres comprise nurses, doctors and social workers who liaise with the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences SAPS Units (FCS).
The other two, Tembisa Masakhane Thuthuzela Care Centre and Thelle Mogoerane Sinakekelwe Thuthuzela Care Centre, are referred to as ‘full house’ as they have an in-house FCS Unit.
They also offer a broader range of services from emergency medical care and counselling, including court preparation, in an integrated and victim-friendly environment.
“It is important that people know that rape can happen to anyone. No one asks to be raped, no matter what they wear, where they are or what they have done.
“If you have been raped you should either go straight to the police station or your nearest care centre where you will be assisted in opening a case should you wish to do so,” said Hazel.
“When survivors come to the centre, we as medical personnel take a history of what happened, and we examine them.
“It’s advised that victims should visit us within 72 hours, as this allows us to collect evidence to compile a comprehensive report for the court on a J88 form.”
According to Hazel, the care centre offers to test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/Aids testing and counselling.
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“Should victims give consent to undergo HIV testing, we draw blood and send it in for testing,” she said.
“If it returns negative we prescribe them treatment which reduces the risk of HIV infection called, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
“This treatment has to be taken for a period of 28 days.
“For those victims who are hesitant to get tested, as rape is a traumatic experience that changes a person, we give treatment for three days, allowing them to rethink their decision, after which they need to return to the care centre for testing and to start their 28-day cycle of PEP.”
Should a victim not have anywhere to go after they have been raped, the care centre liaises with social workers or the FCS Unit, who then arranges a temporary place of safety for them.
For more information contact the care centre on 010 344 2997 or email BerthGxowaCareCentre.MedicoLegal@gauteng.gov.za.
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