Today marks yet another exciting day as Stakeholders and Partners officially launch the operation of the Family Support Centre within the Maprik District Health Centre in East Sepik.

This centre is established to facilitate a coordinated service and will respond to victims of family and sexual violence, especially women and children through a ‘One Stop Centre’ approach. It provides medical, psychosocial, and legal support, including a temporary safe haven for battered women.

With the recent opening of the “Langia Crisis Centre” (formally Nana Kundi center) in Maprik early this month, the two centers will complement each other’s services in addressing the issues in Maprik District and increase the importance of networking and the need for teamwork amongst stakeholders and partners.

Paul Barker, Director for the Institute of National Affairs, said that he applauds Digicel Foundation and UNICEF for this first official opening of the jointly funded Family Support Centre. He further reiterated the importance of this partnership with the Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee (CIMC/FSVAC) in ensuring services such as Family Support Centres is provided for victims and survivors of gender-based violence.  “Services provided through the Family Support Centre will cater for clients’ immediate needs and provide referrals when necessary to other established support mechanisms such as police, NGO’s and church networks.” He also said that Service Providers must strengthen their local network and build capacities as an outcome based approached as it is essential in addressing the issue of violence against women and children."

The Digicel Foundation and UNICEF have already co-funded Family Support Centres (FSC) at Kerowagi Health Centre in Simbu Province and Minj Health Centre in Jiwaka Province, together with the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Committee (CIMC). By improving infrastructure in the areas of basic education and family support, the Digicel Foundation and UNICEF are striving to assist the Government and civil society organisations to empower communities to protect women and children, which will in turn enable them to develop a positive outlook for their future.