The Health Sector’s Role in Preventing and Responding to Violence against Children

Presented By:

The World Health Organization

ministry-of-health-and-social-services-namibia-186085

Ministry of Health, Government of Namibia

Violence, Evidence, Guidance, Action (VEGA) Project, McMaster University

Session Summary

Research shows that fewer than half of children disclose experiences of violence to friends or family, only about a quarter actively seek help, and fewer than 10% ever receive formal support. Health professionals—whether doctors, nurses, dentists, or mental health practitioners—are often the first to notice signs of abuse during routine check-ups, emergency visits, or adolescent health services. This positions them uniquely to provide early recognition and first-line support. Yet, without adequate training, these opportunities are frequently missed.

Rise Up Session Date and Time:

October 9, 2025 2:30 pm

Country or Region Focus:

Africa, Global

Type of Session:

Interactive & practical "how to" lessons for program design and scale with Namibia country case study

Public Health Pillar Focus:

A National Action, Capacity Building, and Scaled Solutions, A Continuum of Child Protection Prevention and Response Services

Speakers

Sabine Rakotomalala, World Health Organization
Dr. Katrina Marita Mouton, Primary Health Care Lead in the Khomas Region, Government of Namibia
Melissa Kimber, Lead of the Violence, Evidence, Guidance, Action (VEGA) Project, McMaster University, Canada

Session Aims

This session aims to provide:

An overview of the WHO Guidelines on health sector responses to child maltreatment.
Present country-level application in Namibia of the Guidelines.
A summary of current capacity-building initiatives available to health professionals.
Advocate for stronger national policies that integrate healthcare, social services, and law enforcement for faster, better coordinated, and more effective interventions.