The ministries of Gender and Family Promotion; Health; and Justice; and Rwanda National Police (RNP) will today launch countrywide field visit to assess the performance and effectiveness of the scale-up and rehabilitation of Isange One Stop Centres (IOSC) in responding to issues related to gender based violence and child abuse.

During the two-week exercise, the joint field monitoring team will visit all the current 16 established Isange centres situated at district hospitals.

The scale-up of the anti-GBV and child abuse started early last year in Nyagatare District as Police and other institutions sought to take holistic services that include free medical, psycho-socio and legal services closer to the people, and to strengthen the campaign against GBV and child abuse.

According to Supt. Shafiga Murebwayire, the coordinator of Isange centres, the joint monitoring team will assess the impact of the centres to locals and identify existing challenges.

"The field visits will help to document achievements of the centres so far, identify any challenges and risks arising from the implementation of the scaling up programme, but, more importantly, taking mitigating measures on time.

In general, the whole idea is meant to reinforce the effectiveness of these centres by detecting any risks and tacklingchallenges involved,” Supt. Murebwayire said.

"The team will also identify services that are provided at different centres and categories of beneficiaries, service delivery, lessons learnt and make recommendations for future planning and decision making.”

In the Eastern Province, Isange centres are in Nyagatare, Ngoma, Rwamagana, Kayonza and Gatsibo; while in the South, they are operational in Huye, Nyamagabe, Kamonyi, Gisagara and Ruhango.

In the Western, they are located in Rubavu, Ngororero, Nyabihu and Karongi; while in the North, they are in Musanze and Rulindo.

The first Isange One Stop Centres was created in July 2009 at Kacyiru Police Hospital in Kigali as a multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary programme aimed at providing psychosocial, medical, police and legal services to adult and child survivors of gender based violence and child abuse.

Isange also has provisions for emergency contraception, HIV prophylaxis, STI prevention, and other medications.

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