When there’s nowhere to escape abuse, your local pharmacy could be your haven

As SA’s gender-based violence (GBV) crisis deepens, community pharmacies have become safe havens for victims of violence desperate for support and help.

The Independent Community Pharmacy Association of SA (ICPA) — an NPO representing more than 1,200 pharmacies and about 3,500 pharmacists — has taken a bold step by identifying community pharmacies as safe spaces, acting as the first line of defence.

According to a Stats SA report released last year, one in five women has experienced physical violence by a partner.

Recent quarterly crime statistics released by the SAPS show 898 women were killed from January to March. During these three months 10,818 women reported rapes.

Reports show intimate partner violence is among the most common and because of this only a minority of cases are reported to the police.

“Gender-based violence in SA has reached crisis proportions and as we celebrate Women’s Month in August, and Women’s Day, we are urging victims to seek help and care at their nearest community pharmacy,” said ICPA CEO Jackie Maimin.

“The prevalence of gender-based violence in SA is an intense and widespread problem that affects almost every aspect of life and needs to be addressed.

“It’s crucial that victims of violence access a safe space where they can report the incident and receive necessary initial assistance from pharmacists who can also help link victims to essential counselling, care and support.”

According to ICPA, pharmacists and their support staff are well positioned to identify victims of violence seeking medicines for chronic depression, pain or wound care, sleeping aids or emergency contraception.

“Both one-off and patterned visits of this nature are often red flags that can alert us to be vigilant for other possible signs of abuse, such as observable tell-tale bruises and injuries. These visits create opportunity to provide critical support and life-saving interventions.”

Maimin said this “front-line” exposure to GBV and the ability to provide a safe space to report such crimes and receive treatment propelled ICPA to create the pharmacy safe spaces initiative.

“For a variety of reasons, many women are too afraid to go to the police station to report gender-based violence. By providing a safe space at their nearest community pharmacy where they can take the first steps towards receiving help, we hope to improve the rates of reporting and the level of care that victims receive.

Both one-off and patterned visits are often red flags that can alert us to be vigilant for other possible signs of abuse, such as observable tell-tale bruises and injuries. These visits create opportunity to provide critical support and life-saving interventions.

—  Jackie Maimin, CEO of the ICPA

“GBV has serious consequences for women’s health — physical and mental — and victims not only suffer from physical trauma and injuries, but also things such as higher levels of suicides, chronic pain syndrome, gastrointestinal disorders, complications during pregnancy, miscarriage or babies with a low birthweight and possible Aids-related illnesses and even death.

“With our 3,500 pharmacists, 20,000 support personnel and 1,200 pharmacies in urban, peri-urban and rural areas we hope to help strengthen efforts in SA to overcome this second pandemic.

“It is imperative that we speak out. As Elie Wiesel said: ‘What hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander.’

“It is essential that we do more to protect our women and children and ICPA has pledged to not be silent bystanders but to do our part.

“We are urging victims of GBV who need assistance to speak to their nearest community pharmacist and get the help needed,” said Maimin.