KOTA KINABALU: Domestic violence cases in Sabah have dropped from 700 in 2014 to 544 last year, Sabah Medical Emergency Service head Dr Ahmad Hashim said today.
He said the decreasing trend of the cases was due to ongoing campaigns by the health ministry, social welfare, native court and various organisations.
"Although there is a reduction of those domestic violence against women and children, we are planning to further lower the numbers by moving within the community to explain
the rights of children and women.
"District hospitals are also conducting more programmes and will work with schools to increase awareness on such cases," he said, adding currently, there are 23 One Stop Crisis Centres in the state to handle cases related to physical or sexual assault against women and children.
He was speaking after the launching of One Stop Crisis Centre Symposium 2016 at Queen Elizabeth hospital here.
Meanwhile, Dr Ahmad added that the department usually expect a spike on the number of domestic violence cases during the harvest festival in May where drinking activity was
part of the celebration.
"For the past few years, the festival had indirectly contributed to increase numbers of rape, incest, other violence, as well as motor-vehicle accidents.
"However, the situation has improved and hopefully will further lower the incidences via community awareness programme."