A delegation from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in Rome and Egypt and UNFPA conducted a visit to the Safe Women Clinic at Cairo University’s Qasr al-Ainy Hospital, where they met with the medical service providers and learned about the role of the clinic in offering long-term support to women subjected to violence.

The delegation was headed by Dr. Stephano Glinianski from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), Ms. Francesca Fiorino, Head of Human Development Unit, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS Rome) and Dr. Martino Melli, Director of AICS in Egypt and Frederika Meijer, UNFPA Representative in Egypt. 

The Safe Women clinics are medical response clinics offering comprehensive services for women subjected to violence. Since late 2020, eight clinics were inaugurated across different university hospitals in Egypt.

The delegation also held a meeting with the Dean of Faculty of Medicine at Cairo University Dr. Hala Salah El-Dine, Dr. Mamdouh Sheeba, Head of Gynecology and Obstetrics Department at Cairo University as well as representatives of the National Council for Women’s Anti-Violence against Women Unit, Mona El-Ghazali, Dr. Amal Philip and Judge Ahmed El-Naggar. 

The Safe Women Clinics’ senior medical team also relayed the results achieved during the pilot phase of clinics since 2020 and the priorities set for the next phase. Experts at the Anti Violence against Women Coordination Unit and UNFPA Gender Specialist Sally Zohney presented the vision of the Safe Women Clinics in enhancing the quality of specialized medical services for women subjected to violence. They also offered in-depth information on the referrals received, the services offered and the multi-sectoral coordination offered through the Women’s Complaints Office at the National Council for Women, the Forensics Authority, the police and Public Prosecution.

At the end of his visit, Dr. Glinianski expressed his deep appreciation to the efforts of Qasr al-Ainy in offering essential and high quality medical care and its commitment to supporting women exposed to violence.

“Gender-based violence is a global challenge, but it is always inspiring to see real efforts and determination to help women and I am very impressed with the capacities of the hospital,” he said.