Pretoria - The Junior Doctors Association of South Africa (JUDASA) has called on all doctors to sound the alarm whenever they suspect abuse of a child they are treating.
"Take time to listen to the woman whose cry for help has been masked by non-specific symptoms and encourage them to report to the police. Let us all do our part in building a safe environment for all of us to live without fear of our fellow human beings," said JUDASA spokesperson, Dr Charlotte Mlangheni.
JUDASA has joined the millions of South Africans in commemorating the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign, which runs from 25 November to 10 December.
Mlangheni said it was a shame that in a country as beautiful as South Africa, women and children still lived in fear of abuse. Even more shameful was the fact that too often, they suffered at the hands of those they trusted to love and protect them.
"How free a country do we live in, if the home, school yard and classroom, street, church and even hospital corridors are not safe for children and women to move freely without being a victim?" Mlangheni asked, calling on the Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, and the entire justice system to roll up their sleeves and take on the fight for the defenseless.
JUDASA saluted the millions of brave men and women that have used their voices through the years to speak for the voiceless.
"As JUDASA, we add our voice to this chorus "Don't Look Away, Act Against Abuse."
