Colombia: Sexual violence, an unattended medical emergency
Eighty per cent of the survivors of sexual violence attended by MSF in its health & mental health programmes in Cauca, Nariño and Caquetá (Colombia) between June 2012 and August 2013 hadn´t looked for help in the local health structures. The obstacles to their seeking health and psychological help were: the lack of awareness that it requires a visit to the hospital (61%); not considering they had suffered sexual violence; threats by the perpetrator, and shyness, among others.
If the survivor goes to the doctor in the first 72 hours, it is possible to give prophylaxis for HIV/AIDS and antibiotics that will help prevent some infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis, besides emergency contraceptives to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.
Apart from the physical consequences, sexual violence has a devastating psychological impact for its victims. Almost all the survivors show symptoms as a result of the aggression, such as aggression, sadness, excessive fear, irritability or anger, and anxiety or stress. However, less than one in every three women that attended the organganisation’s consultation received psychological support after the violent event.
Sexual violence should be treated as a medical emergency. If we want the survivors to receive the comprehensive medical attention they need, guaranteeing that this is available and accessible should be a priority for the government.
(Photo by Ana Surinyach)
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Rémi Carrier is the executive director of MSF Hong Kong.
