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Access to survivors of sexual assault is a priority
for MSF, and the organisation is aware that problems of sexual
violence exist during times of peace as well as war. Many survivors
are unaware that there are treatments to minimise the medical consequences
of rape. The sooner they attend medical services the more options
can be made available to them.
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Monrovia,
Liberia. During 2005 the Benson Hospital treated more than 1,200
women and children as victims of sexual violence.
© Juan Carlos Tomasi |
For MSF, the case management of survivors of rape and other sexual
violence includes the treatment of lesions and pain and the administration
of a prophylactic treatment against HIV/AIDS, which is only effective
if the person receives it in the 72 hours following the aggression.
MSF also administers prophylactics for tetanus and other sexually
transmitted diseases including hepatitis B. In addition, patients
can receive emergency contraception if they reach treatment within
the 120 hours following the rape. MSF also offers parallel psychological
and social support.
Even in emergencies MSF strives to make sure comprehensive care
is available for survivors of sexual violence even though it may
be a challenge for women to seek treatment soon after a rape. "During
conflict, rape victims have additional problems linked to the chaos
around them which is characterised by violence and impunity. In
such contexts, sexual violence constitutes one of many types of
violence and the only priority is survival," explains Katherine
Derderian, Humanitarian Affairs Officer for MSF.
In such conflict
contexts, victims cannot always use services, even when they are
available. "This can be due to a lack of knowledge about the
services, or a lack of confidentiality and privacy within certain
medical facilities," explains Christine Lebrun, Head of Reproductive
and Sexual Programmes at MSF.
MSF focuses on providing information and raising awareness within
communities in order to encourage women to seek treatment as soon
as possible after an assault. MSF also tries to reach women seeking
treatment outside conventional health facilities through collaboration
with traditional leaders and women's groups.
In 2006, MSF sections together provided care to more than 11,000
victims of sexual violence seen in 97 projects, mostly in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Liberia.
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from the field
Women's
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