Four nurses are joining the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program in the province’s Western Health Zone.

The SANE program launched in Yarmouth two years ago to provide victims of sexual assault access to medical and forensic services.

It has since been adopted in all four health zones across Nova Scotia.

Western Zone SANE coordinator Shana Vidito says the service is dedicated to caring for and providing choices to victims of sexual assault.

“They can come in and just receive medical attention. Which is us looking at their wounds and then in addition, or not, they can choose, they can add on, if they want to do a SAFE kit of a rape kit,” said Vidito. “That process involves gathering all that evidence that’s on their body, maybe taking pictures, taking DNA swabs, documenting physical injuries and collecting that for the RCMP, should they decide to hand it over to the RCMP or store it with the SANE program.”

The SANE program is available to people 13 years and older within seven days of an incident.

The four new recruits will bolster supports at regional hospitals in the Annapolis Valley and South Shore bringing the total number of SANE nurses covering that area to 20.

Vidito says everyone working in the SANE program providing frontline support are experienced nurses, taking on this role on top of their day-to-day responsibilities.

“They’re doing this above and beyond their regular jobs which is incredible in these COVID times because these nurses are burnt out and these nurses are just so dedicated to the work, they’re incredible,” said Vidito. “They’re just amazing people.”

Vidito expects the new additions will join the regular rotation of SANE nurses in December.

Anyone wishing to receive confidential and non-judgemental support for sexual assault from a SANE nurse can do so by calling 1-833-577-SANE (7623) anytime.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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