Vulnerable Children Find Protection at Children's Hospital Trust

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This Child Protection Week, the Children’s Hospital Trust is putting not just the physical needs but the emotional and psychological healing of children first, through a powerful project that identifies vulnerable children and implements multidisciplinary care plans to help them feel seen, safe and protected.

Cape Town, South Africa (04 June 2025) – Far too many young lives have been forced to bear the brunt of awful circumstances beyond their control.

In recognition of Child Protection Week (29 May – 5 June), the Children’s Hospital Trust is shining a spotlight on the urgent need to protect our children, not just from abuse, but from the failures that violate their rights and well-being.

As the only specialist paediatric hospital in the Western Cape, the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital sees many of the children who are worst affected. Each one enters the hospital for medical treatment, but for children who are victims of abuse, neglect, or violence, healing means dealing with far deeper internal wounds.

“We are seeing just the tip of the iceberg. We don’t see the children who are fatally injured or those grazed by a bullet or who have seen a family member killed and must live with the psychological impact of that,” says Dr Fatima Khan, the Child Protection Improvement project coordinator at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.

“Treating the medical cases and healing the physical wounds is the easy part. It’s all about what happens after that,” Dr Khan adds.

Healing young lives from the inside

In efforts to address children’s emotional and psychological needs long after the physical wounds have healed, the Trust offers the Child Protection Service Improvement Project.

Through this project, funded by the generosity of donors, the Trust plays a pivotal role in strengthening staff capacity to identify vulnerable children and implement multidisciplinary care plans.

By enhancing child protection services and equipping healthcare professionals with the tools and training needed to identify and manage abuse and neglect, the initiative shifts the focus from observing abuse from a distance to providing protection from it – ensuring that hundreds of children receive the support they need to heal and grow.

Every child receives a tailored plan that includes legal, social, psychological, and medical support.

The multidisciplinary team also works together to ensure that each child and their family are connected to the services they need. The child who lost their family has a safe place to grow, the once-traumatised little girl can face her fears, and the defenceless mom regains her confidence.

“Not a day goes by without another story of violent crime, but for thousands of children, this isn’t news; their lives are lived in fear, while countless others suffer in silence.

“This isn’t just a news story—it is a crisis. Children need us, and you can make a tangible difference by joining our Child Protection Project, as looking away is no longer an option,” says Chantel Cooper, Children’s Hospital Trust CEO.

Every child deserves a life free from fear. Every child deserves to be a child. And thanks to such initiatives, led by compassionate professionals, there is hope for a world where all our children can grow up safe and protected.