“I see mostly women and children coming, some men, but mostly women and children. They seek support because they need protection, health care, treatment, and councelling. And most times, we are the only people they trust” said sister Linda, who is a qualified midwife and experienced Gender-Based Violence (GBV) councillor from the Kundiawa General Hospital Family Support Centre (FSC).
Linda is part of a initiative by the PNG National Department of Health (NDoH) and Provincial Health Authorities (PHA) supported by World Health Organization (WHO) to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and enhance healthcare services by establishing Hospital-based Gender-Based Violence clinics, known as Family Support Centre.
In a joint visit by NDoH and WHO, gender and health specialists visited FSC’s in provincial health hospitals to assess the feasibility of integrating gender and health equity in provinces, and identify gaps and opportunities, particularly around GBV prevention and response in different settings such as primary health care and schools
These centres, based on a One Stop Centre model, are crucial in providing comprehensive treatment, care, support, and assistance to survivors of GBV and Sexual Violence (SV) across PNG.
FSCs are designed to offer a safe place for survivors, providing them with medical care, psychological support, and legal assistance all under one roof. This integrated approach ensures that survivors receive holistic care without the need to navigate multiple services, which can be particularly challenging in rural parts of PNG and during crisis situations.
To ensure the effectiveness of FSCs within PNG’s health and social care system, a thorough evaluation is necessary to understand service delivery, implementation, economic needs, and to identify gaps and opportunities.
The Joint evaluation will adopt a whole-of-society and social determinants of health approach, focusing on health service delivery, accessibility and quality of Care, integration of services, training and supervision, and violence prevention programming.
This joint field visit by WHO PNG and the PNG National Department of Health underscores the commitment to improving healthcare services and addressing GBV in PNG. By evaluating and enhancing the FSC model, PNG aims to provide better support for survivors and create a more resilient and responsive health system.