At least 30 of Grenada’s frontline clinical staff from the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Religious Affairs will be better equipped to support survivors of rape and other forms of gender-based violence.
This is in part due to the knowledge being gained from the Clinical Management of Rape (CMR) workshop, recently conducted in the TIC Conference Room, National Stadium Complex, St. Georges, Grenada.
The CMR workshop, which was officially opened on July 29, 2025 and was facilitated by Dr.Michael Atim, Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Subregional Office for the Caribbean as part of the Build Back Equal Project funded by Global Affairs Canada.
In addition to the workshop, there was a handover of essential sexual and reproductive (SRH) commodities by UNFPA to further support the Ministry’s sexual and reproductive health services initiatives. These commodities are also part of the Build Back Equal initiative.
Featured Speaker at the Official Opening of the workshop and Handover of the Commodities, Minister of Health, in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Religious Affairs, The Honourable Philip A. Telesford remarked that rape “is a gross violation of human rights and often leaves a devastating impact on the dreams and aspirations of individuals…”
Minister Telesford continued by noting that Grenada, as a society, must have a “zero tolerance approach” to rape and other forms of gender-based violence and that survivors must feel empowered to speak up and do so confident that they will receive the level of respect, care and assistance needed.
Reinforcing the call to speak-up, Minister Telesford pointed to Grenada’s collaborative efforts to provide survivors with a single point-of-contact approach where medical care, physical and psychological support, forensic documentation and legal assistance are available under one roof. This approach will significantly reduce the number of times a survivor will need to restate their experience to progress their case and get a sense of resolution.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Religious Affairs, Naomi Jerimiah, noted that the Ministry is a “key partner in the fight against all forms of violence”.
She remarked: “Sexual Violence remains a critical public health and human rights issue worldwide…the training…on the clinical management of rape, aims to empower healthcare professionals to provide quality, client-centred care to survivors…”
De-Jane Gibbons, Liaison Officer for UNFPA in Barbados and the OECS expressed UNFPA’s commitment to the people of Grenada in an effort to support an “environment that guarantees equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services and rights particularly for young women and other vulnerable groups.”
Ms. Gibbons stressed the need for the partnership between the Government of Grenada, Global Affairs Canada and UNFPA to be one that is sustainable and enduring, “sowing seeds, not just for the current but for future generations…looking forward to the day when the sexual reproductive rights of all are realized, especially those who are marginalized.”
Counsellor (Development) and Head of Cooperation, Eastern Caribbean, High Commission of Canada, Ms. Abebech Assefa, noted that the training was more than a technical exercise but “a life-saving intervention that will equip healthcare professionals with the tools and knowledge to provide timely, compassionate survivor-centred care to those affected by sexual violence.”
Ms. Assefa further noted that workshop will help survivors have a sense of dignity as they speak-up with greater opportunities for legal redress due to Grenada’s strengthened forensic capacity for evidence collection thus promoting justice and healing for survivors Upon conclusion of the official opening of the workshop, Ms. Gibbons presented Minister Telesford with a number of essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) commodities. These commodities were procured through the generous support of the Build Back Equal project with funding from the Government of Canada.
Grenada seems to be emerging as the most progressive country in the sub-region. Their athletes are excelling on the international circuit; they are hosting many high profile regional and international conferences; about to build a state of the art, smart health facility, and their youthful leader has gained much respect and high acclaim from his fellow counterparts.
Hope I have it right as I’m an outsider looking in. Many times what seems good from a distance is totally opposite on the inside. Wish the country well!