After almost three (3) years of waiting for the construction of the One Stop Center (OSC) at Kamuzu Central Hospital in the capital city of Malawi, Lilongwe, construction has finally began this month, August 2015.

UNICEF and UNFPA have been building or renovating already existing structures for One Stop centers in most of the district hospitals in Malawi. The Plan is to have at least a One Stop Center in every district or district hospital. So far, the One Stop Center at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Blantyre is the only fully functional OSC in Malawi but there are buildings in other areas like Zomba, Mchinji, Mzuzu.

Fountain of Life (MW) Ltd is the NGO that is providing trauma counseling, follow ups, support group sessions at the OSC in Blantyre and some members of stuff of FOL are also in the OSC team for Lilongwe OSC. Now that the building is under construction, we hope Lilongwe will have a fully functional OSC soon.

One Stop Centers are ideal for defilement, rape and sexual assault victims because it comprises of Medical doctor, Police Officer, Magistrate, social worker and counselors. Victims do not have to go to separate offices to seek some of these crucial services since they are all available in one building hence the name ONE STOP. The name has been recently changed to the local language Chichewa "Chikwanekwane" center also literally meaning One Stop Center.

The construction foreman Mr Ziwoya said the plan is to finish construction by December but water supply is limited and so are other supplies so it may delay. As seen on the photo on top, at least construction has began and we have hope it will be finished as planned. 

The building will be located outside the main hospital but next to the skin clinic which will be very easy for clients to locate since it is along the entrance road to the hospital.