Help for a rape victim

When victims of rape or any other sexual abuse think of their future relationships, they feel small and guilty and would rather keep quiet than tell their story to ruin the future.

But when stuck, according to Ali Male, a counselling psychologist, it is important to tell someone you can trust. It can be a religious leader, a counsellor or police officer.

When rape or sexual abuse happens, as a victim you do not wash up because the police will need evidence of abuse when they examine you.

You will then be sent to hospital, where you will receive counselling and put on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment.

You will be given Anti-retroviral drugs for four months to suppress any chances of contracting HIV.

If the incident happened and it is still within 72 hours, you will be given the morning after pill to prevent any pregnancies.

If it is way beyond, a pregnancy test will be carried out after a month to save the victim from crisis pregnancy and also after a month, an HIV test will be conducted.

Male says rape creates so much hatred and the hatred continues, especially if a pregnancy happens.