It is worrying that over 98% of Gender-based Violence (GBV) survivors do not access healthcare as such experiences may have long-term physical and psychological consequences, said Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in a statement released on Wednesday on the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-V) data on GBV.
“This latest data reflect a dismal state in the practice of seeking medical care post gender-based violence, including sexual violence. Current estimates reflect that healthcare-seeking behaviour (HSB) among the survivors is still near zero,” said the statement.
MSF emphasised that over 98% of gender-based violence survivors, as recorded in the new survey data, do not access healthcare due to the absence of comprehensive medical care available in close proximity to vulnerable groups, as well as the fear of mandatory police reporting.
