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Denise Lewis, one of the presenters at the workshop.
A Medical Personnel Response to Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence Workshop was held on Saturday, February 18th at the St. George’s University’s Bourne Lecture Hall.
This workshop, which was facilitated by SGU in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Social Development and Health in Grenada, targeted physicians, nurses and allied health professionals with the primary purpose of building their knowledge and skill for early and effective response to the needs of victims of domestic and sexual violence.
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Full Story
The whole-day workshop was facilitated by Dr. Zuri Amuleru-Marshall, professor, Behavioral Science, St. George’s University, Dr. Frances McGill, Professor, Clinical Skills and Obstetrics Gynecology, St. George’s University, Dr. Hazel DaBreo, Psychotherapist and Child Protection Specialist, Legal Aid and Counseling Clinic, Grenada, Denise Lewis, Assistant Professor, Psychological Counseling Services, St. George’s University, Jacqueline Sealy-Burke, Director, Legal Aid and Counseling Clinic, Grenada and Angela Naraine, Clinic Nurse at University Health Services, St. George’s University.
In addressing the participants at the opening ceremony, University Provost, Dr. Allen Pensick stated, “St. George’s University is here to try to help in any way that we can and to partner with organizations to drive home the issues of public health. Domestic violence certainly is one of the public health issues that face everyone…This is a very important workshop to create awareness as to what can be done in Grenada to help address the growing violence that we see domestically and socially.” He stressed the importance of dealing with these issues on a societal level.
Also present at the workshop was the Minister of Information attached to the Government of Grenada, Senator Glen Noel, who also spoke at the opening ceremony. He stated, “In the Government’s thrust to develop our country economically and socially, if the incidence of domestic violence and sexual abuse is very high, then it affects the quality of life. Therefore, this is a step in the right direction since everyone is affected.” Senator Noel stressed the importance of the collaboration between St. George’s University and the Government of Grenada by stating, “In dealing with the problem we need a societal response, we need a collaborative approach and we need partnerships.” The Minister of Information advised the participants that “as medical personnel your response goes a long way in solving the problem because your understanding and contact with the situation will ultimately help determine the course of action taken by law enforcement.”
The sexual abuse and domestic violence workshop was planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of Continuing Medical Education (CME) through the joint sponsorship of the Government of Grenada, Caribbean College of Family Physicians and St. George’s University.
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