Immediate service for trauma victims in Elsburg
Elsburg SAPS Victims Support Centre opens trauma centre.
Victims of trauma now have a safe haven thanks to the Elsburg SAPS Victim Support Centre which has opened a new trauma centre.
The launch of the trauma centre took place last Saturday, and was attended by Elsburg SAPS Victim Support Centre volunteers, Wilna Berry (coordinator of the Elsburg SAPS trauma centre), Johan Lourens (Elsburg Sector One CPF and Elsburg CPF chairperson) and his wife Anne-Marie, Col Linah Thethe (Elsburg SAPS station commander), Phumzile Masombuka and Duncan Sibuyi (representatives from the Department of Community Safety), Michéle Clarke (MPL Germiston consituency head) and Alta de Beer (Ward 39 councillor), as well as other stakeholders.
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The main aim of the trauma centre is to provide immediate service to victims of crime, as well as to take all their needs into account, as this will help them to feel empowered.
The trauma centre services also include:
• Call-outs to crime scenes.
• Debriefing for trauma centre volunteers.
• A safe and stress-free environment.
“It is not just a place to help victims who have been traumatised, but also for them to feel safe and to relax in a comfortable and stress-free environment,” said Clarke, who is very impressed with the new trauma centre.
“If a victim of gender-based violence comes for help, they would want to be in a safe and comfortable environment, and I am so happy with the Elsburg Police Station and what they have accomplished with the improvements to the centre.”
The trauma centre is decorated and well-equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, lounge and a bedroom, so that traumatised victims feel a sense of security and comfort while they are being cared for.
“I thank Thethe, Masombuka and Sibuyi, they put in a lot of effort to help us get where we are with the trauma centre,” said Berry, who handed them tokens of appreciation.
“The trauma centre is done, now let us work on the next project,” said de Beer.
The Elsburg SAPS Victim Support Centre welcomes anyone who would like to volunteer.
To volunteer or to find out more about the centre contact the Elsburg SAPS Victim Support Centre on 078 708 9965.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Ashley Kiley (Journalist) ashleyk@caxton.co.za.
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