Rokada brought doctors in Sumy together for training on protecting children from violence
Sometimes a doctor’s attentiveness determines whether a child will be protected from violence. The role of medical staff in detecting such cases early was discussed at the St. Zinaida Sumy Children’s Clinical Hospital with Rokada GBV specialist Olena Tykhonova.
Participants discussed what to look out for during an examination, in a child’s behaviour and emotional state, and how to act if they suspect violence.
They also talked about how to speak with a young patient and their family sensitively and without judgement, maintain confidentiality, avoid retraumatising the child and inform the relevant services in time.
“A doctor is often the first adult outside the family to see a child up close. Bruises in unusual places, explanations of injuries that do not match their nature, excessive anxiety or fear – all of this can be a signal. A child rarely speaks about violence directly, so whether they get protection sometimes depends on how attentive the medic is. Not walking past is also part of treatment,” explains Olena Tykhonova. She notes that medical staff, who work with children and their families every day, also need support: the ability to recover their strength and to be there for one another as a team.
The project is implemented by the Rokada Charitable Foundation with the support of Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo (AICS) in partnership with Bukovinian Agency for Initiatives and Development (BAID) and Un Ponte Per ETS (UPP).
