Child Abuse and Neglect Unit to Be Established at the Yekatit 12 Hospital
Originally published in the Addis Tribune, Week of May 25, 2001
A tripartite agreement to open a Child Abuse and Neglect Unit in the pediatric department of the Yekatit 12 Hospital was signed on Wednesday, May 23, 2001, between Yekatit 12 Hospital, Save the Children Sweden and Save the Children Norway. According to the agreement, the support will be used to establish a unit, which is the first of its kind in the country, to train staff, to purchase equipment necessary to facilitate the diagnoses and treatment of sexually and physically abused children as well as to conduct research.
It was stated that, previously, sexually abused children had to queue up, along with the other children, in order to get medical assistance, and the Hospital was not able, both in terms of money and trained manpower, to address the psychological aspect of the problem of sexual abuse. The establishment of the separate Unit is expected not only to facilitate the provision of appropriate medical treatment and follow up, but also to improve the exchange of information between the Hospital, the police and the Courts regarding cases of sexually (and physically) abused children.
The agreement for the pilot project, lasts for an initial period of one year and involves a support of 100,000 ETB. The agreement was signed by Dr. Teshome Gebresenbet, medical Director of Yekatit 12 Hospital, Mr. Johan Stanggren, Resident representative of Save the Children Norway.
