Haven in a hospital
Amidst the hive of activity that is a hospital, with patients walking in and out and doctors and nurses hurrying to their wards, there is a tiny corner for those troubled or traumatized.
This corner in the clinic where women are screened for non-communicable diseases at the De Soysa Women’s Hospital (earlier known as the De Soysa Maternity Home — DMH), is manned, nay ‘womanned’ by M.T. Ramyalatha Kodikara.
Ramyalatha at her desk at the DMH. Pic by Indika Handuwala
It is the place where any woman who has faced abuse, in any of its many forms, can seek succour, for DMH is where hundreds come not only to deliver their babies but also for other gynaecological issues.
The ‘Kantha Pihita’ counselling centre at the DMH run by the non-governmental organization, Women-In-Need (WIN), celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, having provided silent service to thousands of victims of abuse and women facing vulnerabilities as well as children.
It was born after Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist Prof. Chandrika Wijeyeratne felt the ‘pulse’ of the mental issues faced by women whom she was treating for NCDs such as diabetes and with the support of then DMH Director Dr. Vinitha Pannila and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Prof. Harshalal Seneviratne invited back in 2004, WIN headed by Executive Director Savithri Wijesekera to step in.
Those who sought the counsel of Kantha Pihita has risen from 781 in 2004 to nearly 1,300 in 2013. Soon after it was set up, awareness campaigns were launched among the hospital staff including doctors and nurses, to help them read the signs of mental trauma in women.
“With this tertiary hospital’s ‘catchment area’ not being just Colombo but the whole of the country, there are many vulnerable women who seek help here,” points out Ramyalatha, while others are also referred from the NHSL, LRH, Institute of Cardiology and the JMO’s office.
The pathetic plight of many comes into focus as Ramyalatha speaks of mothers who have no place to go to after the birth of their babies and remain in hospital for a long time. There have also been the gentle handling of expectant mothers who are suicidal, those who have been brought from prison which is a “different world” and mothers who have tried to abort their babies because of impoverishment and the inability to feed another mouth.
The issues faced by women range from rape to incest to sexual, physical, emotional, verbal, social and economic abuse to unmarried pregnancies, forced abortions, depression and psychological, financial, relationship and employment problems.
Some mothers come with problems of substance abuse while Ramyalatha has been a tower of strength to children who have been abused.
Her job, which she takes very seriously, as she sits at her desk five days a week from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. includes referring those who need legal advice and assistance to WIN, with many a time this NGO appearing free of charge in court for them, channelling others to the shelters run by WIN and other NGOs and guiding women to government organizations such as the Departments of Social Service or Probation and Child Care whenever the need arises.
Having worked for 15 years as a counsellor, 10 of which have been at the DMH, she also arms vulnerable women with WIN’s 24-hour hotline (011-4718585) in case there is an emergency.
Ramyalatha’s mind goes back to a seven-month pregnant woman who came to the DMH, along with her nine-year-old son, after being assaulted by her husband. The child was put into care while the mother remained in hospital. When she was discharged, she just could not go back home for fear of being grievously harmed by her husband. She was also desperately wishing to be re-united with her son.
“It had to be done that day, it could not be put off as the court vacation was starting the next day,” recalls Ramyalatha of that unforgettable day which ended only around midnight after she had finally taken the mother and son to the shelter which would be their home.
With Ramyalatha extending her ‘touch’ which exudes a different kind of healing within the DMH, a lifeline is thrown to many a desperate woman and child.