The Campbellville, Kitty, Industry and Enmore Polyclinic health centres which fall under the management of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation will become child-friendly centres, with designated child–friendly spaces.
The hospital said in a press release last evening that this initiative stemmed from a survey conducted by Help and Shelter, which made the recommendation for spaces to be created, which will seek to reduce the incidence of parents having to ‘lash out’ at children while medical attention is being sought at the centres.
According to a prerequisite of this project, all the staff of these health centres are to be fully trained and equipped with the knowledge and skills to observe and appropriately deal with suspected cases of child abuse.
Meanwhile, the training commenced yesterday and is scheduled to continue throughout the remainder of the week at the Resource Centre of the GPHC.
The participants include medical officers, medexes, all categories of nursing personnel, public safety officers, social workers, pharmacists and maids.
The three-day sessions are being facilitated by Vidya Kissoon, consultant in the field of Child Protection.
Officers from the Child Care and Protection Agency have also being included in the sessions and their task is to advise on the roles and functions of the agency and the protocols and laws surrounding the reporting of suspected cases of abuse.
The release said that yesterday’s session was very interactive and participants have committed to increasing their vigilance and actions to stop child abuse in the society.
