Management of Port Shepstone Regional Hospital expressed its sincere appreciation to the Rotary Club for its unwavering support of survivors of rape and gender-based violence. The hospital recently hosted a delegation of Rotarians from Canada, who toured the Thuthuzela Care Centre at the hospital.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN : Port Shepstone Regional Hospital’s wellness programme is ‘a waste of money’
Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCC) are one-stop facilities that are located throughout the country. At Port Shepstone Regional Hospital, staff conduct outreach campaigns to encourage young and old to report incidents of gender-based violence.
During the visit, the Rotarians got to learn how the facility works. The hospital’s head of forensic services, Dr Gerald Baldrey, briefed the team, stating that the centre is among 56 such centres in the country and the work that it performs is crucial in helping to secure the conviction of offenders. The centre provides survivors with a broad range of essential services from emergency medical care and counselling to preparing survivors in a holistic, integrated and victim-friendly manner.
It works in collaboration with ChildLine – for children from 1 to 17 years and Lifeline for 18 year old and older. “We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and our services are free of charge,” said Dr Baldrey.
The relationship with the Rotary Club started when Vanessa Howard-Tripp, President of Port Shepstone Rotary Anns, was driving through Port Shepstone and noticed a park home bearing a Rotary emblem, inside the hospital grounds. She decided to investigate and soon learned that the park home was donated by the Rotary Club to care for the victims of gender-based violence, especially survivors of rape.
She approached Dr Baldrey to find out how the Rotary Anns could help. Among the items most needed by the survivors were comfort packs, which are string bags containing essential toiletries. These bags assist when survivors have to take a bath after a physical examination. The Rotary Anns then began providing these comfort packs to the Thuthuzela Care Centre and have been doing so for the past 11 years.
“Management of Port Shepstone Regional Hospital remains immensely grateful for the support that it receives from the Rotarians and wishes them well in all their endeavours,” said public relations officer for Port Shepstone Regional Hospital, Phumza Morai.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
For news straight to your phone, add us on WhatsApp 082 421 6033
