The Senior Medical Officer at the May Pen Hospital in Clarendon is raising an alarm about the decreasing age of the victims who’re being sexually assaulted in the parish.
Dr. Bradley Edwards raised the alarm while speaking this morning on Nationwide with Kalilah Reynolds and Danielle Archer.
Tauna Thomas reports.
Dr. Edwards is describing the new trend of sexual assault cases coming into the hospital as very serious.
Dr. Edwards says the number of cases seen last month was more than the number of cases usually seen for the entire year.
And he says the statistics show that almost every month there’s a 14 year old who has been abused.
While the statistics from the Police has not yet covered the month of May, there’s been an 8% increase in sexual assault cases in Clarendon between January and April.
That’s according to Administrative Officer of the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse, CISOCA, Deputy Superintendent Samantha Smith.
Meanwhile, DSP Smith noted that the numbers might jump in September when children return to school.
She informed that many child victims of sexual abuse usually confide in their Guidance Counselors.
Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at the May pen Hospital, Dr. Curtis Pryce says most of the victims are being molested by pre- teen boys.
Dr. Pryce says it’s being suggested that the boys are possibly being exposed and influenced by pornographic material.
Dr. Curtis Pryce, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at the May Pen Hospital.
DSP Smith says there’s been a 30% clear up rate of sexual assault cases so far this year.
Deputy Superintendent Samantha Smith, Administrative Officer of the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse.
