Gender-Based Violence: A public health emergency we can no longer ignore
Gender Based Violence (GBV) is not just a social injustice; it is a public health emergency.
Every survivor carries scars that go far beyond the moment of violence.
Broken bones may heal, but the psychological trauma lingers, often manifesting as chronic pain, reproductive health complications and mental illness that can last a lifetime.
These are not isolated struggles; they ripple outward, placing additional burdens on families, communities, and our already strained healthcare system.
The cost of GBV is measured not only in human suffering but also in economic loss. Survivors who live with long-term trauma often face reduced productivity, while health facilities struggle under the weight of preventable injuries and illnesses.
This is why GBV must be treated as a health crisis, not just a crime.
Fragmented systems fail survivors
Too often, survivors encounter fragmented responses.
Services meant to protect and heal operate in silos, leaving survivors to navigate a maze of weak referral pathways, inconsistent care and missing data.
This disjointed system undermines recovery and denies survivors the justice they deserve.
We cannot continue with piecemeal solutions
Survivors need integration, not fragmentation.
Health facilities, legal institutions and social services must work hand in hand with standardised processes that reimburse medical treatment, document legal evidence, and ensure consistent care across all levels.
Digitising forms and streamlining support would not only improve accountability but also restore dignity to survivors who deserve seamless, compassionate care.
Removing financial barriers
Survivors should never have to choose between healing and financial survival. Yet many face insurmountable costs when seeking medical care. Government must act decisively:
GBV cases should be explicitly listed as National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) exempt, with reimbursement enabled through the Domestic Violence (DV) Fund.
This clarity would empower healthcare facilities to treat survivors without hesitation, ensuring that no one is denied care due to cost.
From crime to crisis, from reaction to healing
As a nation, we must shift our mindset. GBV is not only a crime, but it is also a health emergency.
Prevention must be prioritised, care must be coordinated, and justice must be proactive rather than reactive.
Survivors deserve systems that centre on their dignity, health and healing.
“As we mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, our focus on online violence must go beyond awareness to intensifying support for the psychological needs of survivors, ensuring healing, dignity, and resilience in the digital age.
* The writer is a Programmes Manager, FIDA-Ghana
