Kind: captions Language: en-GB
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Welcome to “Let's talk about it” podcast — brought to you by Laaha
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Laaha is an open, online platform where women and girls
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can get information about their health, wellbeing, and safety.
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Please remember: All content provided on the platform
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is based on scientific knowledge for educational purposes only.
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It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.
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My name is Lydia and today we are going to talk about essential steps
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you should know if you or someone you know was raped.
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First, let’s talk about what you might expect from health services.
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You may have to speak with a reception desk to be directed to the appropriate area of the health clinic.
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These may be at the entrance to the health facility or the emergency room,
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but some facilities may have social workers or more discrete places
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where you can get information on where to go.
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Unfortunately, not all health staff may be supportive or empathetic.
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Remember, no matter what anyone says, this is not your fault and you have the right to access services.
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You should be seen in a private, confidential area. If this is not the case or you do not feel comfortable,
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it may be possible to ask for a more private examination room.
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Some health facilities will automatically have a female doctor or nurse
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available to provide treatment and care to women and girls.
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But this is not always the case. You can ask to have a female health staff present,
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though this may not be possible in all health facilities based on the staffing in a particular location.
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If you are under 18, you may need an adult with you in order to access health care services.
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If you do not have a trusted parent or family member, a social worker may be able to accompany you,
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but this will vary by different locations.
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There is a globally recognised set of treatments for survivors of rape
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to prevent and manage possible health consequences.
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It is recommended that survivors access clinical care as soon as possible after the incident.
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You have the right to have complete information
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on the treatment options and to decide for yourself what is done.
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You might need to pay for this type of medical care,
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but also it could be free in some health care facilities.
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For more information, you can speak with a social worker in your area.
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And remember, you have the right to ask for a copy of your medical results and files.
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If you wish to collect evidence on what happened to you
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to go to court or report your abuser to the police, you can ask for a forensic exam.
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In this case, it is advisable to avoid taking a bath or going to the toilet after the incident.
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Such exams can be performed at any time but there will be more forensic evidence available
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within the first 48 hours after the rape.
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It is your decision whether you want to perform such an exam or not.
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You don’t have to go alone – ask a trusted friend or family member,
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or a social worker, to accompany you.
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If you do go alone, you can ask at the health facility if there is a counselor advocate,
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or social worker available who may be able to accompany you through the process.
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If you have more questions or would like to talk to someone about the specific services
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and processes in your location, reach out to a service provider near you by clicking on 'get help'.
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There is also more information on how women and girls
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can access different types of services on Laaha, a Virtual Safe Space.
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Please remember NO ONE deserves to experience violence and every individual experience is serious.
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You deserve to be believed and supported.
Let's talk about it podcast: Life saving health care for survivors of rape
