University of the Western Cape School of Nursing Students Take a Stand Against Gender-Based Violence

This initiative aims to raise awareness and understanding of gender-based violence among both the staff and patients of Valkenberg Hospital, one of the major specialist hospitals in Cape Town.

The campaign is scheduled for Tuesday, 26 September, and it represents a significant step in empowering individuals to identify signs of violence, support survivors, and take preventative measures. The students have invited a gender-based violence specialist from the Rape Crisis organisation to share valuable insights and knowledge during the presentation.

Lona Qaqambile, a final-year nursing student, expressed her appreciation for the collaboration: “We are honoured to have a guest speaker from the Rape Crisis Fund who will provide invaluable insights into gender-based violence and its impact on individuals and communities.”

The Faculty of Community and Health Sciences regularly places its final-year nursing students at Valkenberg Hospital to gain hands-on practical experience in mental health and psychiatry.

According to Indiran Govender, a research psychologist, South Africa has been deemed the rape capital of the world, with 10 818 reported rape cases in the first quarter of 2022. The rate of intimate partner violence resulting in the death of women in this country is five times higher than the global average. Gender-based violence takes various forms, including physical, emotional, psychological, financial, or structural harm, often perpetrated by intimate partners, colleagues, strangers, and even institutions.

The final-year students believe that by joining forces and shedding light on these critical issues, they can make a substantial impact in the fight against gender-based violence. They hope their stance will inspire others to take action against violence and abuse.

Valkenberg Hospital is a specialised psychiatric facility that serves patients who require complex care and cannot be managed at lower levels of healthcare. The hospital’s forensic psychiatry unit is dedicated to conducting psychiatric assessments of defendants referred by the courts and rehabilitating mentally disordered offenders. The unit also places a high priority on research into current issues. In the broader context of mental healthcare in the community, the unit actively advocates for patient rights and necessary reforms.