The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, has trained 50 medical social workers and commenced a two-day capacity-building programme for doctors and other healthcare workers on the prevention and management of sexual assault.
The trainings, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), are aimed at strengthening the health sector’s ability to provide psychosocial, clinical and forensic support to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
The one-day training for 50 medical social workers, held on September 3, focused on equipping participants with skills to provide appropriate psychosocial support to survivors.
The session emphasised active listening, empathy and survivor-centred approaches, with participants drawn from healthcare facilities across Lagos State.
DSVA said medical social workers play a critical role in ensuring that survivors receive appropriate support from their first contact with the healthcare system.
Building on the programme, the agency on September 9 commenced a two-day training for medical doctors and healthcare workers on the prevention and management of sexual assault.
The first day of the training covered the meaning and types of gender-based violence, the scale of sexual assault, the impact of cultural norms and beliefs on survivors, survivors’ rights, rape-kit procedures, and the recording and reporting of SGBV cases.
The session was facilitated by Dr Veronica Iwayemi, while the Head of Case Management at DSVA, Mrs Oluwatumininu Oni, led discussions on existing state structures and services for sexual assault survivors and the Mandatory Reporting Policy.
A session on sexual assault management was facilitated by Consultant Family Physician, Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo.
The second day focuses on direct patient care, including history-taking, informed consent, general examination, genital anatomy, case scenarios, medical reporting, treatment and disease prevention.
Participants are also being trained on coordinating survivor care through referral networks.
Forensic evidence collection is another major component of the programme, covering DNA evidence collection, forensic screening and practical use of rape kits. The session, alongside medico-legal issues, is being facilitated by forensic investigation expert, Mrs Avril Eyewu-Edero.
Declaring the training open, DSVA Executive Secretary, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to equipping healthcare workers with the skills required to respond to survivors with competence and sensitivity.
Vivour-Adeniyi said the two programmes were designed as interactive and practical sessions, using case scenarios, demonstrations and structured discussions to prepare participants for the realities of handling SGBV cases.
According to her, the approach is intended to strengthen the entire survivor-care process, from the provision of psychosocial support and initial clinical contact to forensic evidence collection and documentation that could support legal proceedings.