- Torrevieja is the department that has screened the most women to date this year with a total of 6.023, detecting 21 cases of gender violence.
- Vinalopó is the second department in number of surveys carried out, screening a total of 3.637 women and detecting a dozen positive cases.
The health departments of Torrevieja and Vinalopó, health departments of the public network of the Valencian Community managed by Ribera, are being the two departments that are screening the most women throughout this year 2020 within the universal screening program against gender violence of the Ministry of Universal Health and Public Health, according to official data from the Ministry of Health.
It should be noted that, one more year Torrevieja It is revealing itself as the most committed health department in the Valencian Community in the active search for cases of gender violence. Thus, to date, a total of 6.023 women have been screened compared to the average of 1.857 for the rest of the departments of the Community, making it the department that is carrying out the most surveys. For his part, Vinalopo, continues this same path, ranking behind Torrevieja, with a figure of 3.637 surveys carried out on women.
The detection of 21 and 10 positive cases of gender violence respectively in Torrevieja and Vinalopó, in which physical, mental and/or sexual abuse has occurred, has been the result of the screening work carried out by health professionals from both hospitals. as well as the Primary Care centers of each health area.
The current pandemic and the health, economic and social crisis derived from Covid-19 have caused an increase in risk for women victims of gender violence, and by extension, for minors in their care. “We want to remind the entire population, and especially women, that all professionals continue to work in the fight against this social scourge. We must not forget that the numbers of women murdered at the hands of their abuser amount to 41 women and 3 minors as of today, according to data from the Ministry of Equality”. they say from the Social Work service.
The objective of the gender violence screening protocol is to promote early detection of cases of gender violence in women over 14 years of age who are treated in health centers by social and health professionals who have direct care with women.
After the detection of a positive case, the health professionals of the health centers and hospital emergency services activate the specialized protocols, referring to the pertinent resources available to the Administration to protect the victims; that is, the 24-hour Women's Center, Social Services, the Police and the Civil Guard.
Social workers, working against gender violence
The Torrevieja Health Department has a Social Work service that informs, guides and advises patients on gender violence. In addition, it informs victims of the specific social resources that exist, such as active insertion income, remote alarm, emergency centers, shelters and 016.
This unit offers psychosocial support and follow-up to victims of gender violence, as well as referral to the appropriate resources for minors who depend on them. The action is based not only on social intervention, but on carrying out an exhaustive coordination of the case with the relevant services that are most convenient for the woman and her daughters and sons.
On the other hand, from the Sanitary Social Work functions of sensitization to the professionals are carried out, working jointly on the problem from a biopsychosocial point of view. Prevention and promotion tasks are also carried out in the community.
