HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh returns to University to support unique project helping victims of sexual violence

A pioneering international collaboration to help victims of sexual violence in conflict led by Swansea University has been visited by HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh.

A passionate advocate for raising awareness of the impact of conflict on women, The Duchess of Edinburgh visited Swansea to meet the team involved in the new SPARC alliance (Swansea – Panzi Alliance for the Reconstruction & Care of victims of conflict related sexual violence) to share surgical expertise between medics in the UK and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Professor Iain Whitaker, Chair of Plastic Surgery at the University’s Medical School, led a group of experts to the renowned Panzi Hospital earlier this year to meet Nobel Prize winner Dr Denis Mukwege who has dedicated his career to treating victims of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

In Her Royal Highness’s role as Patron of the Scar Free Foundation, The Duchess had previously visited the Panzi Foundation in Bukavu and it was Her Royal Highness’s suggestion that the two surgeons meet to explore whether expertise from the Scar Free Foundation could be offered to support the work of Dr Mukwege and his team in addressing the injuries experienced by survivors of conflict related sexual violence.

During the visit to Swansea University, The Duchess said: “When I visited Panzi Hospital I was told a lot of people come through the door, get their pictures taken and never come back. I thought, I can’t be one of those people that walks in, gets a photo taken and then walks away.”

Dr Mukwege made the trip to Swansea to be reunited with Her Royal Highness, Professor Whitaker and his colleagues to discuss the initiative and its plans for the future.

The visit was hosted by ReconRegen at the University’s new Simulation and Immersive Learning Centre (SUSIM) and its immersive wall technology provided a unique way of illustrating the initiative’s work so far and explaining why it is so vital to CRSV victims.

The Duchess and guests were given an overview of the trip to the DRC as well as the project’s next steps, including the development of groundbreaking 3D printed surgical training prototypes, knowledge exchange and capacity building.

It was The Duchess of Edinburgh’s second visit to Swansea to take a closer look at Professor Whitaker’s work with the Scar Free Foundation and Health & Care Research Wales Programme of Reconstructive Surgery & Regenerative Medicine (ReconRegen).

Professor Whitaker, who is also HCRW’s specialty lead for surgery, said: “It was an honour to welcome The Duchess to Swansea University again. We are very proud Her Royal Highness takes such a personal interest in our work and Her Royal Highness’s involvement was instrumental in getting this initiative off the ground.

“The visit to the Panzi Hospital was incredible, it was one of the highlights of my career on both a personal and professional level. I was so moved by the incredible resilience and positivity of the women at the Panzi and the work Dr Mukwege has done over two decades and we are committed to working with our colleagues at the Panzi to improve care and drive forward developments to make life-changing differences to survivors.”

Dr Mukwege described Professor Whitaker’s team as inspirational and thanked The Duchess for her ongoing commitment to raising awareness for the victims of sexual violence in conflict.

He said: “We wouldn’t be here today without the work of Her Royal Highness. To have her support means a lot to all of us.

“The war on the bodies of women is an attack on our common humanity and can never be tolerated or accepted, they are suffering only because they are women.”

Her Royal Highness said the collaboration would involve sharing techniques, training and upskilling to help survivors: “It is about shining a light on what can be done, especially in the environment in which these women live.

“Thank you, Iain for taking this baton up.  I know it is taking you into areas that you wouldn’t necessarily have gone but thank you for going there. I think we are really starting something here and already we have made a difference and that’s what it’s all about.”

The trip to the DRC was made possible thanks to funding from the Welsh Government’s Wales and Africa Grant Scheme and Taith Research Mobility Exchange Programme, with support from The Scar Free Foundation, Health & Care Research Wales, the FCDO and the Office of The Duchess of Edinburgh.

Head of Programmes at Health & Care Research Wales Michael Bowdery said: “We are proud that Wales is playing its part in supporting this international collaboration, which has received Royal recognition from Her Royal Highness. Professor Whitaker’s close collaboration with Dr Mukwege and the team at the Panzi Hospital will be highly instrumental in helping victims of sexual violence in conflict in the DRC and it’s really humbling to see how Welsh research is helping in this field.”

Chief Executive of The Scar Free Foundation Lt Gen Richard Nugee added: “Our patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, is committed to raising awareness of conflict-related sexual violence. We’re delighted she is championing this groundbreaking partnership. This initiative is an opportunity to create real change and lasting impact through surgical innovation, bringing about vital physical and psychological support to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence globally.”

Find out more about the team’s visit to the Panzi Hospital