Micheal Maponya Clinic hosted an ant-GBV campaign on Thursday, August 24 to educate and enlighten the community of Pimville about the services they render for the victims.
GBV has become like an incurable disease that continues to claim a lot of lives in South African communities.
The purpose of the awareness campaign was not only to talk about issues around GBV, but to educate the residents about the available safe houses to run to when seeking help.
Social Worker at Micheal Maponya Clinic, Lindiwe Mathopa said, “GBV is a serious social ill in our community that people still struggle to talk about because of fear.
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“So, today we wanted to provide resources and where our people can go and seek help without being judged.”
According to Mpumelelo Nomlomo from the Cllr’s office, GBV starts when a boy child grows up in a home where his father abuses his mother.
That is when violence becomes a norm that whenever a girl disagrees with him, the only solution becomes violence.
“We filter according to our traumatic experiences and or defence mechanism becomes violence. GBV is caused by the environment, traumatic upbringing and lack of resources for counselling to heal when you are hurting,” Nomlomo explained.
It is therefore important for victims of GBV to have places to run to when they do not only want to report but also when they need hiding and protection.
Multiple stakeholders were present to inform the public of the services they render to the affected.
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One of them was Thuthuzela Care Centre in Baragwanath Hospital that deals with women who are physically and sexually assaulted.
It is a one stop centre where victims can see a doctor, report a case and receive counselling.
The other one was Fikile, a Green-door ambassador who resides in Sun Valley. She deals with GBV cases where she refers victims to safe houses and her house is open to anyone who needs help 24 hours.
“Our main objective is to have accessibility of resources which will ensure that help is always present. Also, to promote the culture of looking out for one another,” Mathopa concluded.
