The centre is ably run by operational manager Sister Hazel Moagi, overseen by Annah Mabunda, assistant manager for Clinical Forensic Medical Services, Ekurhuleni Health District, and a staff complement of nine members.<\/p>\n
Staff include a doctor, counsellor, nurses and data capturers.<\/p>
The centre was established as a result of the increasing number of sexual assault patients who were being seen in casualty.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government saw the need for dedicated facilities to see to women at hospitals post 1994,\u201d said Mabunda.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore 1994, if you were a victim of rape, you were examined by the district surgeons in the mortuaries.\u201d<\/p>\n
The care centre offers a variety of services to people, including managing sexual offences, domestic violence and child abuse.<\/p>\n
The staff are also extremely active running awareness campaigns on gender-based violence and educating community members.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur campaigns take different forms,\u201d said Moagi.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do door-to-door campaigns, awareness walks, we visit the malls and speak to people there, we talk to community members one-on-one, we visit taxi ranks, hold dialogues with the community and visit schools to speak to the children.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mabunda said that the care centre\u2019s services are offered free of charge and they encourage local businesses to make use of their services.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany women cannot leave work to attend the campaigns, and, by visiting companies, we will be able to talk to them and give them the necessary information they need,\u201d said Mabunda.<\/p>\n
When a woman has been raped and visits the centre she will first be debriefed.<\/p>\n
She will then be treated, given medication and counselling will be arranged for her.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n 16 Days of Activism: Women need to be educated to be empowered<\/a><\/p>\n 16 Days of Activism: Amcare offers you a place of safety<\/a><\/p>\n \n It is important for victims of sexual abuse to visit the centre as soon as possible after the incident.<\/p>\n \u201cWomen should not wait but rather come straight to the centre or to the police after the incident,\u201d said Moagi.<\/p>\n \u201cWe encourage women not to wait longer than 72 hours, as the sooner you receive medical and psycho-social care the better.<\/p>\n \u201cFor effective HIV treatment, a victim needs to start on their anti-retrovirals within 72 hours, and, to prevent pregnancy, medication must be taken within 120 hours.\u201d<\/p>\n However, even if the 72-hour period has elapsed victims are advised to visit the centre for medical treatment and counselling.<\/p>\n \u201cAll victims are encouraged to seek the necessary help,\u201d said Moagi.<\/p>\n The Bertha Gxowa Care Centre works closely with the SAPS, especially the Germiston and Boksburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Units, as well as the courts.<\/p>\n For 16 Days of Activism, the centre will be conducting one-on-one talks at Golden Walk Shopping Centre today (Wednesday), as well as partnering with another organisation for an event taking place in Dukathole on Thursday (November 28).<\/p>\n The Bertha Gxowa Care Centre can be contacted on 011 278 7622\/3 or those in need of help can visit Bertha Gxowa Hospital and ask to be directed to the care centre.<\/p>\n If you would like the staff to visit your company to discuss gender-based violence with your staff members, you can contact Moagi on the above-mentioned number.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Services offered by the care centre<\/strong><\/p>\n The care centre offers services to victims of:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Sexual offences.<\/p>\n \u2022 Domestic violence.<\/p>\n \u2022 Child abuse.<\/p>\n \u2022 Elderly abuse.<\/p>\n It also offers the following other services:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Drinking and driving cases (they take blood).<\/p>\n \u2022 Medical assessments for children going into placement or people going into rehabilitation.<\/p>\n \u2022 Age assessment for court purposes.<\/p>\n \u2022 Sex determination for Home Affairs.<\/p>\n \u2022 Psycho-social care.<\/p>\n \u2022 Campaigns related to gender-based violence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Ashley Kiley (Journalist)\u00a0ashleyk@caxton.co.za.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Also follow us on:<\/p>\n
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