KEM Hospital's One Stop Centre Restores Full Operations

Mumbai's KEM Hospital has resumed full operations at its One Stop Centre (OSC) after a month of partial functioning due to staff shortages. The centre, which provides integrated support to women affected by violence, had been struggling to provide services such as counselling, legal assistance, and temporary shelter.

The staff shortage issue came to light after a 19-year-old sexual assault survivor had to wait nearly five hours before being shifted to another centre for temporary shelter. Following a report by the Free Press Journal, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide intervened and assured that the matter would be addressed.

The civic administration has now deputed around 10 staff members, including counsellors and a lawyer, to the centre. District Women and Child Development Officer Shobha Shelar confirmed that the Dean of KEM Hospital had assured her that the hospital would provide all necessary support to ensure the centre functioned smoothly.

The OSC, established under the Central Government's Mission Shakti programme, offers medical care, legal aid, psychological counselling, police assistance, and temporary shelter to women in distress. The centre had been facing a crisis after an NGO withdrew from the project, leading to a shortage of trained personnel.

The disruption had affected shelter services and reduced the number of cases handled by the centre from around 100-120 per month to nearly 30-40. Authorities expect the restored staffing to help the centre gradually return to its previous capacity.

Advocate Audrey D'Mello, Director of Majlis, welcomed the development, saying that the centre is a lifeline for women in distress. She thanked everyone who took the initiative to restore its full functioning.

The restoration of the centre's operations is a significant step towards providing support to women affected by violence in Mumbai. The centre's services are crucial in providing a safe and supportive environment for women in distress.

The KEM Hospital's One Stop Centre is one of the many centres established under the Mission Shakti programme, which aims to provide integrated support to women affected by violence. The programme was launched in the aftermath of the 2012 Nirbhaya case, with the goal of providing medical care, legal aid, and psychological counselling to women in distress.

The restoration of the centre's operations is a positive step towards providing support to women in Mumbai. The centre's services are essential in providing a safe and supportive environment for women affected by violence.

In conclusion, the resumption of full operations at the KEM Hospital's One Stop Centre is a significant development in providing support to women in distress. The centre's services are crucial in providing a safe and supportive environment for women affected by violence, and its restoration is a positive step towards achieving this goal.

The city's women and child development department will continue to monitor the centre's operations to ensure that it functions smoothly and provides the necessary support to women in distress. The department will also work to address any future issues that may arise and ensure that the centre continues to provide its services to those who need them.

The restoration of the centre's operations is a testament to the city's commitment to providing support to women affected by violence. The centre's services are essential in providing a safe and supportive environment for women in distress, and its restoration is a positive step towards achieving this goal.

In the coming months, the centre is expected to gradually return to its previous capacity, handling around 100-120 cases per month. The centre's staff will continue to provide medical care, legal aid, psychological counselling, police assistance, and temporary shelter to women in distress.

The city's residents can be assured that the centre is fully operational and providing the necessary support to women affected by violence. The centre's services are essential in providing a safe and supportive environment for women in distress, and its restoration is a positive step towards achieving this goal.