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Creating Safe Communities for children
Child abuse and neglect are being reported from all parts of the country at an alarmingly increasing rate. Hence there was a need within the country for all stakeholders to unite to formulate an effective response when an incident is reported. The Child Protection Committee of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians designed a project titled ‘Creating Safe Communities for children’ in 2011. Plan Sri Lanka joined hands with the Sri Lanka College of Pediatricians and the project commenced in 2012 with one of its objectives being better management of victims of child abuse and neglect. As an initial step, the ‘National Guideline for the management of Child Abuse and Neglect: A Muti-sectoral Approach’ was launched by the then Minister of Health, Hon. Maithripala Sirisena on 4 December, 2013 at the BMICH. A pilot project to manage victims of child abuse according to these guidelines was commenced in Gampaha district on 25 September 2014
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One of the main problems faced in dealing with victims of child abuse and neglect in health institutions is the issue of confidentiality and difficulties in providing sensitive management of victims and their families. At present the victims are admitted to different wards in health institutions.The establishment of a homely place of safety where child victims of abuse can be provided comprehensive multidisciplinary care was a strong felt need.
The intended care plan at 'Lama Piyasa' includes management of medical/legal issues, assessment and management of psycho-social needs of the victims of abuse in liaison with relevant agencies and long term follow up of victims.
The Ministry of Health accepted the concept of 'Safe Houses' in Health Institutions throughout the country. As part of the project of Creating Safe Communities for children, the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians and Plan Sri Lanka together with the Director of the North Colombo Teaching Hospital designed a Safe House – 'Lama Piyasa.'
Approval for the building was obtained from the Ministry of Health and the foundation laying ceremony was held on 27 November 2013, at the Ragama Rehabilitation Hospital.
The building was completed by Plan Sri Lanka at a cost of 13.9 million rupees. A fully equipped state of the art video recording unit was donated by the Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan at a cost of approximately 3 million rupees.
The ceremonial opening of the of Lama Piyasa was held on 9 March 2015 with the attendance of Hon. Minister of Health Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and the Hon. State Minister of Children Ms. Rosy Senanayake as Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour respectively. This facility will provide for in house management, video recording of evidence and long term follow up by all sectors involved. The sectors involved in addition to the health sector would be the department of Probation and Child Care, the National Child Protection Authority and the Women's and Children's Bureau of the Sri lanka Police. The video recording unit will ensure that the evidence of the child victims admitted to the Lama Piyasa would be recorded for the purpose of submitting to courts. This would reduce the re-traumatisation of the child victim during the court procedure.
Academics of the Departments of Paediatrics, Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya together with their counterparts in the Ministry of Health at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital Ragama were closely involved in the designing of the Lama Piyasa. The Hon. Minister of Health and the State Minister stated at the opening ceremony that it is anticipated that at least one Safe House – Lama Piyasa- will be made functional in each province in the future, where all the sectors of medical, legal and psychosocial can be engaged together in helping victims. Hence, the Academics of the Faculty of Medicine are proud to have been involved in the planning of the first ever Lama Piyasa in the country. They will be closely involved in the management of victims of child abuse and neglect at this facility. They are grateful the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Nilathi de Silva, who has appointed a pre-intern demonstrator for the coordination of activities at the Lama Piyasa.
The web site of the Creating Safe Communities for Children project is www.protectingthechild.org.
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 Front view of Lama Piyasa
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