KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Health and Wellness, supported by the Spotlight Initiative and the Pan-American Health Organization, commemorated World Trauma Day, October 17, with the rollout of a series of training and sensitisation sessions for healthcare workers.

Some 240 workers were invited to participate in the sessions, which have as their focus ‘Comprehensive Training on the Management of Interpersonal Violence, including Gender-based Violence, Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Assault’. The sessions will run across the island’s four health regions until November 2023.

The effort, which addresses all forms of violence and which many times result in traumatic violence-related injuries, builds on last year’s training of a team of health care workers as trainers in the management of gender-based violence as part of the course

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has also developed protocols and guidelines, covering the management of interpersonal violence, as well as gender-based violence, sexual assault and suspected victims of trafficking.

“As we continue this momentum and focus, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has developed a joint approach to capacity building for our facility level health care workers to ensure they are fully equipped to respond and provide support in the management of interpersonal violence in all its forms,” noted Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton.

“This means that our health care workers who serve in the health centres and hospitals will be further equipped in the care and support of cases of violence-related injuries presenting to health care facilities,” he added.

World Trauma Day – celebrated this year under the theme ‘Empowering Voices, Healing Wounds Together!’ – is commemorated with a view to preventing accidents, injuries, death and disability worldwide. Trauma refers to serious accidents and violence-related injuries. These events can have a lasting impact on the survivor, both physically and emotionally.

Jamaicans who have experienced trauma, such as a fall, domestic violence and road traffic crash injuries, visit health facilities on a daily basis.

“Our health care workers assiduously work to save lives while doing their best to provide empathy and support,” noted Dr Tufton.

“We work along with our collaborating partners and refer relevant cases to Jamaica’s support services, including the ministry’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Helpline, 888-NEW-LIFE,” he added.