‘Check violence against women’

LAHORE

Medico-legal officers are in a key position to offer critical care to women who might otherwise face all sorts of violence and its health consequences.

‘The Role of health services in responding to gender-based violence" was discussed on Thursday in a meeting held at a local hotel where nearly 30 health professionals from various hospitals participated. 

The meeting was organised by Centre for Legal Aid Assistance & Settlement (CLAAS), under the Gender Equity Programme (GEP) of Aurat Foundation by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

Zahida Sadiq Legal Advisor-PCSW said that gender based violence is a bitter reality in Pakistan. It is increasing day by day and there is urgent need for the country to take steps to reduce it. 

Legal Adviser-PCSW Zahida Sadiq said gender-based violence was a bitter reality in Pakistan. It is increasing day by day and there is an urgent need for the country to take steps to reduce it. She said when it comes to provision of medical facilities to women, one of the critical gaps that must also be addressed was lack of adequate medical, psychosocial and other services for gender-based violence survivors. The sexual and gender-based violence sector is the most underfunded area of the humanitarian response for Pakistan, she stressed.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Farhat Sultana of Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore said that health services had been slow to address gender-based violence in Pakistan likewise in many other developing countries. Healthcare professionals may not recognise the impact of violence on women’s health or they may consider it a private, domestic matter which is not relevant to their work. Moreover, it is said, they may be not equipped to deal with the problem because medical and nursing education and training does not include it as a health concern.

The speakers urged specific training in the forensic medical investigation and documentation of torture and ill-treatment was needed. Medical Officers undertaking medical examinations need to do so in a timely manner. They should examine both the physical and psychological trauma. 

In his closing remarks, Joseph Francis, National Director-CLAAS said Pakistan’s criminal justice system could not be improved without reforming the medico-legal examination process. Medical professionals also need to understand pro-women legislation related to gender-based violence. He stressed long-term supporting efforts to sensitise and train health professionals about gender-based violence at all levels. He also thanked all participants. 

lab: A meeting of Steering Committee of Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drugs Authority (PAFDA) was held in Civil Secretariat with Additional Chief Secretary, Punjab, Shamail Ahmad in the chair on Thursday. 

The meeting decided to establish a new state-of-the-art food testing laboratory at Thokar Niaz Baig and upgrade of Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL) to the most modern standard in accordance with the world’s top most drug testing laboratories. The meeting decided to introduce “Punjab Fertilizer Control Act 2016” to abolish the business of adulterated fertilizer and spurious pesticides. The meeting was told that the government of Punjab has released a grant of Rs 186 million for land acquisition in Thokar Niaz Baig while the scientific and logistic equipments in the proposed new food testing laboratory will be installed till January 2017.

The additional chief secretary directed the authorities concerned to accomplish the recruitment of 87 new scientists and other technical human resource not later than September 15, this year.