Two ‘Friends of Rwanda’ from the Legislative Leadership Institute (LLI) in Carifonia, USA, on April 6, visited the Anti-gender based violence and child abuse medical wing, Isange One Stop Centre situated at Kacyiru Police Hospital, and hailed the holistic initiative as “an extraordinary approach that gives hope to women and children.”
Bob Wood and Amy Polaski were accompanied by the Minister for Health, Agnes Binagwaho in a guided tour of various wings of the Police hospital where they were explained on various services offered.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr. Wilson Rubanzana, Coordinator for Isange One Stop Centers and Specialized Medical Programmes in Rwanda National Police, while giving an overview of the hospital, said that Isange, which is one of the three wings of the hospital, has proved to be an answer in responding to incidences of gender awed violence and child abuse related issues.
“Isange is structured in a way that all services ranging from medical, counseling and legal are offered in one place for free. But again this centre has had several other initiatives like conducting countrywide awareness campaigns to urge and involve the general public against gender violence and child abuse,” explained Dr, Rubanzana.
“Victims now break silence about atrocities committed against them and we are now seeing a big turn up of people that report such atrocities and thus get all the help they require including medical and justice,” he added.
Speaking shortly after touring various units, Amy commended the government of Rwanda for fighting for the rights of women, girls and children.
“This is extraordinary and it’s another example of how Rwanda lives through example and by example,” Amy said, in reference to the free services given to victims.
“You have to credit the amount of thought that have gone into the integration of all levels of services to make this a success, and I think the population of Rwanda will be well served by this,” she added.
Wood said that “this is a real testimony of the First Lady Jeannette Kagame and the vision she has against gender based violence and child abuse, focusing on health, education and ultimately giving people economic stability.”
“This is a real credit. We are excited to be here in Rwanda and we look forward to great partnership and years ahead,” he added.
The centre was established in 2009 with the support of the First Lady and One UN.
Through advocacy and networking with Global Fund, the First Lady Madam Jeannette Kagame through Imbuto Foundation, was able to put infrastructures at KPH covering different suitable services for women like Women pavilion (maternity ward), project to support women empowerment, department for services that protect mother to child HIV transmission and Isange.
Isange model has provisions for emergency contraception, HIV prophylaxis, Sexual Transmission Infections (STI) prevention and other medications. It provides free referral and specialized services like medico-legal, gynecology and obstetrics, mental health, legal and investigation, psychosocial, safe room and social integration services.
Survivors, who stay in the safe room, receive basic services like feeding, clothing and shelter.
Since its establishment in 2009, it has received over 10, 000 cases, majority related to sexual and gender violence.
The centre scooped the United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA) 2012 for its efforts in fighting Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). The award dubbed “Promoting Gender Responsive Delivery” of Public Services was in recognition of the success of the Isange. UNPSA is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service.
Minister Binagwaho said that the model has been successful both in terms of medical services and other required assistant to the survivors of GBV and child abuse, a reason why the government has decided to scale it up to other 41 district hospitals across the country by the end of this year, to also serve victims in the countryside, who sometimes find it hard to trek to Kigali or to other 12 centres so far established in some districts.
The scale up is implemented in partnership with Police, Rwandan government and the Netherlands Government.
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