First hospital based child protection unit in Pakistan – Data review of first 5 years

Pakistan's first child protection unit was established in 2009 after 4 years of voluntary work by a Hospital Based Child Protection Committee at The Children Hospital. It received technical and indirect financial support from... [ view full abstract ]

Pakistan's first child protection unit was established in 2009 after 4 years of voluntary work by a Hospital Based Child Protection Committee at The Children Hospital. It received technical and indirect financial support from ISPCAN and has sustained till now despite numerous challenges. This model of Hospital based Child Protection manages and reports CAN cases providing them with medical, surgical, psychological management, social support and legal help.
During the five year period from 2009-2013, this CPU has managed 947 case of CAN including 675 cases of severe neglect, 154 physical abuse, 67 sexual abuse, 28 severe emotional trauma. There were 17 babies abandoned either immediately after birth or later parental inability to cope with their chronic ailments. This data is analyzed for cases managed in this unit comparing age and sex for the types of abuse, suspected perpetrator, geographical distribution of cases and their detection through emergency, wards or OPD.
Child protection has been incorporated in the curriculum of Children Hospital Nursing School and CPU has trained more than 500 doctors and nurses on managing abused cases.
This paper will also discuss the achievements and challenges faced by PAHCHAAN, an NGO, the initiative being owned by the Government and the process being ready for replication throughout the health care system of Pakistan.