Rape survivors are examined at two stages at the DMCH -- upon admission, the survivor is led to the gynecological emergency ward where doctors administer primary treatment and collect swabs. The next stop is the OCC.

“All rape survivors are first taken to the gynecological emergency ward,” stated Dr Bilkis Begum, coordinator of the One-Stop Crisis Centre (OCC) at DMCH, who was previously head of the gynecological department.

“The OCC can provide primary medical care but it is still necessary to take the survivor to the emergency ward first to make sure she is not in any immediate danger.

“We need to see if they are in trauma or they are bleeding or if they need to be taken to the operating theatre, which the OCC does not have.”

Later, they are taken to the reassuring privacy of the OCC, where DNA evidence is collected. “We call the OCC the Bailey Bridge -- it is an uphill battle getting here, but once you are here, it is a safe place,” Dr Bilkis added.