Opening the medical response unit to deal with battered women and the reception and emergency unit of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital at the university

Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Matini, President of Ain Shams University, and Dr. Maya Morsi, Chairman of the National Council for Women, the Medical Response Unit for dealing with battered women in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, the reception and emergency unit of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in Ain Shams University hospitals, after developing it at a cost of 12 million pounds.

The opening was witnessed by Mrs. Germaine Haddad, Deputy Representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Egypt, Prof. Dr. Hesham Temraz, Acting Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, Prof. Ashraf Omar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Chairman of the University Hospitals Board of Directors, and Prof. Dr. Shehira Samir, Vice Dean of the College of Medicine for Community Service and Environmental Development and Director of the International Relations and Academic Cooperation Sector at the University, Prof. Ahmed Rami, Director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, and Prof. Dr. Hassan Awad, Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, and Prof. Hind Al-Hilali, Director of the Unit for Combating Violence and Harassment at Ain Shams University, the Vice-Executive Directors of University Hospitals, Hospital Directors, Medical College Agents, representatives from the National Council for Women, the United Nations Population Fund, and a group of doctors and those interested in medical affairs in various Egyptian universities.

During the opening, Prof. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, said that the university and its hospitals always seek to provide the best medical service to the Egyptian citizen according to the highest international standards. He praised the cooperation with the National Council for Women and the United Nations Population Fund, pointing out that they are partners of success.

He also praised the role of the University's Anti-Violence and Harassment Unit in serving women of all sects within the university community.

He pointed to the importance of spreading awareness and serious work in the field of literacy as this has an impact on society and human rights, pointing to the university's efforts in this regard.

In her speech, Dr. Maya Morsi praised the level of medical service provided by Ain Shams University hospitals in general and the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in particular, and the quick and high-quality handling of patients' cases, especially in light of the current global medical conditions.

She explained that the National Council for Women’s keenness to open a medical response unit to deal with battered women in various Egyptian universities coincides with the celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which falls on November 25 of each year, and the campaign of the National Council for Women (16 days to combat violence against women).

She dealt with the efforts of the National Council to provide more rights for Egyptian women, especially in light of the commitment of the Egyptian state, the political leadership and the Egyptian constitution to guarantee women's rights in all forms and shapes. She also emphasized the importance of introducing the women's complaints office of the council through the number 15115.

Ms. Jermaine Haddad confirmed that the latest statistics issued by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics indicate that 7.8 million women are exposed to some form of violence, and less than 1% of them report it.

She emphasized that the efforts made by the Egyptian state with the concerted efforts of its various institutions, especially universities, are making wide steps to raise the slogan "Egypt does not accept violence against women."

Prof. Dr. Ashrf Omar praised the efforts of the university administration and the Faculty of Medicine in tireless work for the development of university hospitals.

The opening ceremony was moderated by Prof. Dr. Shahera Samir thanked the efforts of the work team based on the project, stressing that what was accomplished came with the concerted efforts of many institutions so that this work would come to light, explaining that the community service and environmental development sector seeks to monitor community needs and work to meet them as well as seek solutions to various problems, Stressing that what we are witnessing today in terms of achievement came based on the agreement concluded between the university and the National Council for Women and the subsequent training for doctors and nursing and the provision of all equipment.

Prof. Dr. Ahmed Rami added that the University's Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital has succeeded in meeting the needs of women in an efficient and quality manner, especially in light of the global pandemic conditions, stressing that the support does not stop to develop the medical service provided and raise its efficiency.

Prof. Dr. Hassan Awad said that the medical response unit for dealing with battered women of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has been equipped at the highest level to meet the needs of women and to deal with various forms of physical, sexual or psychological violence, pointing out that one third of the world’s women are exposed to violence in all its forms, which includes the deprivation of Education, deprivation of inheritance, etc., and not only exposure to harassment, rape, or indecent assault.

He explained that the unit includes a team of doctors and nurses who have obtained a training course at the highest level, stressing that the unit works 24 hours while maintaining complete confidentiality of information.

Prof. Dr. Hend Al-Hilali reviewed the efforts of the University's Anti-Violence and Harassment Unit since its inception to spread awareness among girls and create a safe environment in the university community, to protect all individuals from exposure to violence in all its forms and forms, as well as various forms of harassment, stressing that the efforts of the unit reflected positively on the awareness of the university community and its surroundings and increased Ratios of communication and interaction with the unit.

At the end of the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, Dr. Maya Morsi, President of the National Council for Women, and Ms. Jermaine Haddad, Deputy Representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Egypt, followed by an inspection tour of the response unit to deal with battered women and the developments of the reception and emergency unit of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital at a cost of 12 million pounds.

The attendees also witnessed a silent drama produced by the University's Anti-Violence and Harassment Unit, which embodies some forms and images of violence against women.

It is noteworthy that the inauguration of the medical response unit to deal with battered women was established under the auspices and support of the United Nations Population Fund and the Embassy of Norway, in cooperation with the National Council for Women.