medicusmundi creates Psychosocial Support Groups in the Resettlement Centers for displaced people.
Medicus Mundi, in coordination with the Provincial Directorate of Health (DPS), through the District Services of Health, Women and Social Action (SDSMAS) and Caritas of the Diocese of Pemba, created, between the 28th of September and the 2nd of October, three Psychosocial Support Groups, in Cabo Delgado, with people displaced by the conflict in the north of the province.
The creation of Support Groups with highly vulnerable families was preceded by the training of 15 health technicians from three reference Health Units in Cabo Delgado, namely: the Metoro Health Center, in the District of Ancuabe; the Mirate Health Center, in the district of Montepuez; and at the Nanrapa Health Center in the district of Namuno. After the creation of the three groups, the trainees stated that they recognized the existence of people in the resettlement communities who suffer from psychological problems and committed to carry out psychosocial support activities and referral to the Health Unit for hospital care.
medicusmundi, represented by the Psychologist Abdala Iahaia, appealed to the Psychosocial Support Groups created in the Resettlement Centers so that, during the carrying out of their activities with families, they were guided by respect for human rights, professional secrecy and humanism.
In the Resettlement Centers, basic needs, such as food, water and shelter, have been met by various actors from civil society and beyond; however, what follows is to strengthen the health network with support that can, in the first instance, contribute to the prevention of higher risk diseases, such as diarrhea, cholera, malaria, malnutrition, among others, as well as psychosocial care that communities need it so that they can rebuild their lives. Most of the displaced and resettled people were victims of physical torture, rape, among other crimes; for this reason, for medicusmundi, in Cabo Delgado, creating and strengthening these groups at the level of communities and Resettlement Centers is a high priority to guarantee humanitarian assistance, psychosocial support and socio-sanitary care.