AFMC conducts workshop on ‘Managing Sexual Abuse’

PUNE: A one day workshop on ‘Managing Sexual Abuse’ was organised by the ‘Violence against Women Cell’ of Federation of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Society of India (FOGSI), as part of their ‘Survivor Treatment Advocacy & Responsibility (STAR) Programme’, at Armed Forces Medical College, Pune on June 15.
In his introductory remarks Lt Gen A K Nagpal, VSM, Director and Commandant, AFMC noted that the incidence of sexual violence against women is high.“Indian society as a whole has repeatedly shown its desire to move towards zero tolerance of sexual violence. The response of the nation in the Nirbhaya case demonstrated this very emphatically. There is a need for the medical fraternity to be sensitised regarding the medical and legal nuances of conducting a meticulous and ethical forensic examination of victims of sexual assault,” said Nagpal.
Deliberations included a session devoted to ‘Overview & Current Scenario’ by Dr Jyothi Unni, Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jehangir Hospital, Pune, who was co- convener of the workshop , along with Brig Manash Biswas, Professor & Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, AFMC, Pune.
Important aspects of medical care of victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault were discussed by the faculty. Topics covered included ‘Laws pertaining to sexual abuse, focussing on involvement of doctors’ by Col Abhijit Rudra, Professor & Head, Department of FMT, AFMC, Pune, ‘Collection of evidence and protocols to be followed’ by Dr Vaishal Korde Nayak, Professor & Head of Unit, Dept of O &G, MIMER and ‘Medical Surgical and Psychological Management’ by Dr Reena Wani, Additional Professor & Unit Head, Dept of O & G and Dr RN Cooper MMC & Hospital, Mumbai.
There was a panel discussion on ‘Managing the Survivors’ which was moderated by Brig Manash Biswas. Panelists included Dr Reena Wani, Dr Meenakshi Deshpande, Col A Rudra, Ms Aarthi Chandrashekhar and Adv Shireen Merchant. The workshop was attended by a large number of gynaecologists and post graduate medical residents of all related specialties from local hospitals and medical colleges.