High-tech aid in battling rape in EC
THE fight against rape and sexual assault in the Eastern Cape stepped up a gear yesterday when six hightech computers used to collect evidence on camera during hospital examinations were delivered.
Handing over one of the colposcopy machines at Settlers Hospital in Grahamstown, health MEC Dr Phumza Dyantyi, said she was excited that the equipment would also be used for the early detection of cervical cancer.
According to Dyantyi, rape and sexual assaults were a huge problem that needed to be curbed using the best new technology around.
She said the machines would cut out human error during the collection of vital post rape evidence as examiners sometimes got emotional during the examination.
All evidence was collected by a high resolution camera that stored the images in a computer that could only be accessed by the examiner using a special code.
“What is nice about this machine is that it can see the minutest lacerations that people sometimes miss.
“The images are stored in the computer and used as evidence in court cases.”
Instead of lying around in files, patient confidentiality was safeguarded through the information being stored on the colposcopy machine.
Department of Health chief director Miyakazi Nokwe said the six machines, which are collectively worth R4.5-million, would be rolled out at six district hospitals.
To date, eight machines have been installed in the bigger centres and the latest batch will be sent to Settlers Hospital in Grahamstown, and to other hospitals including those in Indwe and Humansdorp.
Health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the machines would help the National Prosecuting Authority to ensure improved conviction rates against sex offenders by providing better medico-legal evidence in court cases.
According to Tessa Harmse of East Coast Medical, who supplied the equipment, the machines were simple to operate and even provided prompts during examinations.
Besides measuring internal injuries, the colposcopy machines can also photograph other vital court evidence like clothing, body fluids, bruises and other injuries on the patient. —