Mirpur safe home not so safe
The only state-run safe home in the capital lacks separate accommodation for autistic children, access to emergency medical services and specialised manpower for tending to its residents, said speakers at a workshop yesterday.
The workshop titled “Ensure effective quality and sustainable services of existing safe home project” was organised by Voluntary Association for Family Welfare and Social Development (VAFWSD) and facilitated by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF).
A recent visit to the safe home building in Mirpur found the roof on its second floor to be damaged and toilets unhygienic and unhealthy, said Dr Abdul Quaiyum Laskar, chief executive of VAFWSD.
"I found children aged 6-14 years roaming about there without any clothes on them," he said.
For the development and rehabilitation of vagrants, safe custodian women, adolescents, destitute and helpless, Laskar called on all to work together to improve the overall situation of the safe homes in the country.
Razia Sultana, manager of the safe home in Mirpur, said they do not have enough manpower and resources to carry out the everyday activities of the safe home, including formalities involving court.
Nasima Begum, director general of Department of Social Services, said, a memorandum of understanding with VAFWSD and MJF will enable all the seven government-run safe homes in the country to provide better services in counseling, legal aid, health treatment, skill development, rehabilitation and reintegration of the victims and destitute of the society.
The participants of the workshop were mainly the nurses, teachers, trainers and administrators of the Mirpur safe home.
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