sexual assault victims by a US specialist later this month.

The training programme was set up after The Royal Gazette revealed that no medical evidence could be taken from two recent sexual assault victims -- because the Island's one specialist was on holiday.

A committee made up of several organisations, including Police, the Women's Resource Centre and the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, was set up to look into the possibility of training medical practitioners in the examination and after care of sexual assault victims.

And the committee is now hoping to raise $70,000 to kit out a special examination room. Some of the cash will also be used to fly in a US expert to train at least 12 medical practitioners so that there will always be someone on call qualified to deal with sex attack victims. Candidates for the 12 places are still being interviewed.

The Island's only doctor trained in examining victims and collecting evidence, Dr. Keith Cunningham, is due to retire shortly.

Health chiefs have already agreed to renovate a room at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to house the facility, but failed to budget for any new equipment or training in the specialist field.

US expert Nurse Kathy Bell, who works for the Tulsa Police Department as sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Programme coordinator, visited the Island earlier this year and will conduct the week-long course, which is due to start on December 12, free of charge.

Last night chief fundraiser Starla Williams, who runs the Select Sites Group marketing and promotions company, said: "An independent committee was formed with the goal of creating a more comprehensive programme with a team of certified examiners, a standardised examination kit, fundraising for new equipment and the creation of an examination room within the hospital with more privacy for victims and their families.

"Advice was sought from the leading nursing professional in North America who created the model programme that most cities in the United States and Canada now follow.

"Ms Bell visited in July for an initial consultation in which she donated her time. A 40 hour training course for ten examiners is now planned. Ms Bell will provide much of the training, along with her colleague Dr. Robert Block and members of the Bermuda Sexual Assault Rescue Team.'' Although fundraising has just begun, organisers hope to have the facility up and running by the end of January.

Yesterday Women's Resource Centre counselling services director Sharon Apopa said that the project would ensure that victims receive the full range of treatment services, from medical intervention to psychological aftercare.

"This is a collaboration between lots of different organisations,'' she said.

"The problem was highlighted by Dr. Cunningham's impending retirement. There are several agencies involved and we are trying to set up an holistic approach so that victims are treated both for the physical and psychological effects.

"The training programme will also mean that, rather than depending on just one individual, we will have a pool of qualified staff who will be able to carry out clinical interventions and also then go to court to give evidence.''