Project Report â Fiji 2010 - Pacific Health Voices
Project Report â Fiji 2010 - Pacific Health Voices
Project Report â Fiji 2010 - Pacific Health Voices
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Figure 8: Assailants for VAW Patients 2005-9 in selected MOH facilities<br />
8.21 <strong>Report</strong>ing of Case to the Police<br />
Source: Fieldwork, Aug – Sept., <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
Given the implementation of the reconciliation and ‘No- Drop Policy’ by <strong>Fiji</strong> Department of<br />
Police, it would be interesting to establish the implementation and effectiveness (or otherwise)<br />
of this policy within the health system in <strong>Fiji</strong>. There was a probe to establish whether incidents<br />
of violence against women & the girl child were reported to the Police, included into this study.<br />
According to the findings of this study, about 589 of the total 717 assault cases were reported<br />
to the police. The same can also be said of the other 1151 cases that were not recorded as<br />
‘assault’ in the records. The fact that those cases were referred to the Police despite not being<br />
recorded as assault cases in the health facility records implies the severity of the violence,<br />
abuse and eventually, the injury. Therefore, of the total 3.027 patient records of VAW, a total of<br />
1,868 (62%) cases were reported to the Police in the period of this study. It is heartening to<br />
note that more than half of the cases had been reported to the Police. This is an indication that<br />
advocacy and prevention work by government and some NGOs such as the FWCC are working<br />
and effecting change in society. Simultaneously, the high number of cases not reported to the<br />
police (1286) should remain a high concern and steps should be taken to address this.<br />
The high number of non reported cases indicates the need for effective counseling and<br />
treatment for the patients to empower them to make a decision to report those cases to the<br />
Police and therein cease or reduce the instances of violence they are experiencing. There is also<br />
need to provide clinical treatment along with sound and timely counseling to VAW patients to<br />
facilitate and manage wholesome treatment. It is important to remember that physical and<br />
sexual violence are largely accompanied by verbal and emotional violence and abuse.<br />
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