Human Trafficking Survivor Educates Healthcare Workers

Walking across the front of the auditorium, human trafficking survivor Kelse Nablina spoke to a room of about 50 professional healthcare workers Wednesday morning.

It was part of an event sponsored by the Racine Coalition Against Human Trafficking at Wheaton Franciscan Hospital - All Saints in Racine. 

Nablina says when she was a child, a family member had taken her away and she entered the world of human trafficking.

It took her nearly 20 years to accept the fact that she is a survivor of human trafficking. 

She now spends part of her time speaking to groups about her experience. But Wednesday’s event was the first time she spoke to healthcare professionals.  

"One of my biggest challenges in the whole process is that you come away with injuries, you come along with long-term health problems from being trafficked. And often it's hard to access help and I've run into that myself," Nablina explained.

Kerri Hemmig, executive director of the Racine Coalition Against Human Trafficking also says healthcare workers need to better understand what trafficking victims go through.

"It's so important for healthcare professionals to understand the level of PTSD and trauma that these victims have and that does present itself in a variety of ways. And typically it does not look like we would assume A victim who is in trouble would look like. So it's important to educate our medical professionals on how to deal with the victim and what kind of services they truly need," Hemmig explained.

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