Nurses aim to end violence against women, children
‘As we continue to promote everyday values, we ask you to keep in mind the role the family plays in the positive reinforcement of values of our children. Remember everyone, not all forms of abuse leave bruises.’
INSPIRED TO bring about a reduction in the incidence of violence against women and children, 2018 LASCO/ Nurses Association of Jamaica Nurse of the Year, Denese Dacres Reeves, recently rallied dozens of people to participate in the Orange Day Walk.
The march, held in Kingston, followed the Orange Day walk which took place in Mandeville, Manchester, in January.
According to Reeves, the impact of violence on women and children has been understated in recent years; therefore, the Orange Day walk should help bring about much-needed attention to the problem.
“This march came about as a result of the findings of appalling statistics on violence against women and girls. But to our boys. It was found that our boys are not immune to violent acts,” Reeves said.
Dacres Reeves believes that the ways in which some children are being raised have helped to perpetuate violence in society.
Guest speaker at the Orange Day Walk, Bradley Edwards, senior medical officer at the May Pen Hospital, echoed Reeves’ sentiments.
He indicated that through stemming violence against women and children, the nation would see a reduction in the rate of crime.
WHO STATISTICS
Citing statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), Edwards said homicide was among the top five causes of death among adolescents.
He also shared that one in four children suffer physical abuse, and one in five girls is sexually abused at least once in her lifetime.
“This is not normal,” he said. He therefore urged nurses and other stakeholders committed to preventing and responding to violence against children and adolescents, to apply the WHO INSPIRE Technical package.
This module comprises a group of strategies with the greatest potential to reduce violence against children.
With regards to the strategies of enforcing norms and values, Edwards urged Jamaicans to look to the word of God.
“Our guide at this point in time is the Bible. We are being pushed away from the Bible with certain things that we are asked to consider. But we need to know where our norms and values come from and just stand on the word of God,” Edwards said.
He also called for a shift in Jamaica’s education system, noting that students need to be encouraged to find solutions to issues.
“Our education system, over the years has been predicated on skill sets that are not relevant to the country. We need to encourage our children to think about solutions. Not just how to be a doctor or a nurse,” he said.
Renée Rose, brand manager at LASCO, the main sponsor of the initiatives undertaken by the nurse of the year, encouraged Jamaicans to hold each other accountable in the effort to end violence against women and children.
“As we continue to promote everyday values, we ask you to keep in mind the role the family plays in the positive reinforcement of values of our children. Remember everyone, not all forms of abuse leave bruises,” she said.
Now in its fourth year, the Orange Day March was first championed by the winner of the 2015-16 Nurse of the Year, Treveen Palmer-Miller.
Part proceeds from the walk will go towards a fund to educate the children of a colleague nurse, who was murdered, while the remainder will be given to other charitable initiatives.