THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, WEST INDIES

FACULTY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
THE UWI SCHOOL OF NURSING
Tel: (868) 225-1026 Ext. 3004/3016 Fax: 225-1885 Email: uwison@sta.uwi.edu

MEMORANDUM
TO: Professor Terence Seemungal, Dean FMS
Professor Dilip Dan, Deputy Dean, FMS Graduate Studies & Research
Dr. William Smith, Director, School of Dentistry
Dr. Rajiv Dahiya, Director, School of Pharmacy
Mr. Niall Farnon, Coordinator, Optometry Unit
Dr. Karla Georges, Director, School of Veterinary Medicine
FROM: Dr. Gloria Ramdeen Mootoo, Project Lead

DATE: Wednesday, 05 January 2022

SUBJECT: RE: INVITATION FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE

PILOT PROJECT OF THE SPOTLIGHT INITIATIVE - PAHO/
WHO CURRICULA ON GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

This memorandum supersedes correspondence dated January 3rd, 2022.

The UWI has been contracted by the PAHO/WHO under the “Spotlight” initiative to develop and pilot two
curricula for healthcare students to build capacity in the care and support of survivors of Gender Based
Violence (GBV). The Spotlight Initiative is a global joint programme between the United Nations (UN) and
the European Union (EU) which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030.

Following extensive stakeholder collaboration and curriculum design, the project is now in the pilot phase
and we are pleased to invite students to register for the two curricula which will be delivered in January,
2022. Your assistance in disseminating the following information to your Undergraduate and Post Graduate
students to facilitate their participation in the pilot testing of the curricula is appreciated.
The course for Graduate Students is scheduled for January 10th -14th, 2022, Monday – Friday at 5:00pm-
8:00pm while the Undergraduate students will be facilitated during the period January 17th – 21st, 2022,
Monday-Thursday 5:00pm – 8:00pm.

A certificate of participation will be awarded to all students who attend and successfully complete the course.
Students are invited to register using the link: https://forms.gle/aZRmRionmTNeMeGi6

Thank you for your assistance in this initiative.

Regards,

……………………………………………
Gloria Ramdeen – Mootoo
Project Leader

………………………………..
Dr Oscar Ocho
Team Leader

Encl:// Brief outline of Curricula modules

1. CURRICULUM A: SENSITIZATION OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
Target students: Undergraduate students in healthcare professions including Medicine, Dentistry,
Nursing, Social Work, Psychology

Description: Gender Based Violence takes place in virtually all societies around the world. GBV is
understood as a multi-dimensional concept and a long-standing development challenge, rooted in our
societal, institutional, and personal realities. Effective care of victims and survivors is rooted in a framing
of GBV that is cognizant of its many complexities, and which also, does not hold the survivor responsible
for the incident.

The extent to which GBV is understood as a social ill, and by extension a health issue, requires an
understanding of GBV and Violence Against Women and Girls, as products of complex forms of
entrenched gender inequalities, reinforced by widely held community beliefs, and often facilitated by
diverse power relations that shape societal gender norms.
Survivors of Gender Based Violence require an extensive array of services. These services include and are
not limited to the following: Legal Assistance, Protective Services, Health Services, Social Services and
Counselling Services. Health care and social services service providers are fundamental to the support
required by victims and survivors. A holistic approach to care must rely on a working knowledge of the
local context of GBV response and intervention and be able to identify both governmental and non-
governmental services available.

Goal: The goal of this curriculum is to equip service providers with a working knowledge of the diverse
services required for the holistic health of survivors of GBV. Additionally, it will provide students within
helping professions with first level competence to ensure that service providers commit to equipping
survivors with comprehensive referral networks which include civil society actors, faith based, community
based and governmental actors.

Mode of delivery: Online

Course Modules and Schedule: The course consists of 5 modules which will be delivered as follows:
Module Date
Module 1: Core concepts in Gender Based Monday Jan 17, 5-8pm
Violence
Module 2: Behaviours and Values for safe and Tuesday Jan 18, 5-7pm
supportive care
Module 3: Clinical Care in GBV Wednesday Jan 19, 5-7pm
Module 4: Networking, Resources and Support: Thursday Jan 20, 5-8pm
Local landscape of GBV Service Provision
Module 5: Cross-cultural competencies in GBV

Registration: Students are invited to register using this link:

Please note spaces are limited and as such early registration is advised.
A certificate of participation in the course will be awarded to all students who attend and
successfully complete all 5 modules
2. CURRICULUM B: CLINICAL COMPETENCIES IN GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

Target students: Graduate students in healthcare professions including Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing,
Social Work, Psychology

Description: Gender Based Violence takes place in virtually all societies around the world. GBV is
understood as a multi-dimensional concept and a long-standing development challenge, rooted in our
societal, institutional, and personal realities. Effective care of victims and survivors is rooted in a framing
of GBV that is cognizant of its many complexities, and which also, does not hold the survivor responsible
for the incident.

Survivors of Gender Based Violence require an extensive array of services. These services include and are
not limited to the following: Legal Assistance, Protective Services, Health Services, Social Services and
Counselling Services. Health care and social services service providers are fundamental to the support
required by victims and survivors. A holistic approach to care must rely on a working knowledge of the
local context of GBV response and intervention and be able to identify both governmental and non-
governmental services available.

However, health care professionals, while willing to provide comprehensive services to persons requiring
GBV services, they may not always feel competent to do so. This may be predicated on a number of factors
including the legal implications, time required for making representation in court as well as some
sociocultural nuances which could affect their attitude and quality of service delivery. This curriculum is
provider centred as it is intended to provide a framework for clinical interventions and support for persons
presenting with GBV experiences.

Goals: The goals are to equip service providers with a working knowledge of the diverse services required
for the holistic health of survivors of GBV. Additionally, to ensure that service providers commit to
equipping survivors with comprehensive referral networks. These networks should include civil society
actors, faith based, community based and governmental actors. Service providers must seek to form working
network systems across actors.

Mode of delivery: Online

Course Modules and Schedule: The course consists of 5 modules which will be delivered as follows:

Module Date
Module 1: Core concepts in Gender Based Violence Monday Jan 10, 5-8pm
Module 2: Behaviours and Values for safe and Tuesday Jan 11, 5-8pm
supportive care
Module 3: Clinical Care in GBV Part 1 Wednesday Jan 12, 5-8pm
Module 3: Clinical Care in GBV Part 2 Thursday Jan 13, 5-8pm
Module 4: Networking, Resources and Support: Local
landscape of GBV Service Provision Part 1
Module 4: Networking, Resources and Support: Local Friday Jan 14, 5-8pm
landscape of GBV Service Provision Part 2
Module 5: Cross-cultural competencies in GBV

Registration: Students are invited to register using this link:

Please note spaces are limited and as such early registration is advised.
A certificate of participation in the course will be awarded to all students who attend and
successfully complete all 5 modules