…On Psychosocial To Support Survivors
By Babagana Muhammed, Maiduguri
The Borno State Government has partnered with the World Bank-supported Multi-sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) and trained 200 healthcare professionals on mental health and psychosocial support services for victims of insurgency conflicts.
During the training session in Maiduguri, the Chief Medical Director of the Borno State Hospitals Management Board, Professor Abubakar Kullima emphasized that the training was a crucial step towards addressing the needs of those affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The training marks a follow-up to a previous session where 150 healthcare workers across 27 Primary Healthcare Centers were trained, bringing the total number of trained professionals to 200.
The victims of the insurgency are primarily women and children who have been displaced and traumatized by the conflict, having endured the unimaginable loss of their husbands and children.
Furthermore, Prof. Abubakar Kullima maintained that the initiative aims to equip healthcare professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide specialized care to these victims, particularly women and children.
The State Project Coordinator of the MCRP, Baba Zannah Abdulkarim, explained that the project helps the state recover from the shocks caused by the insurgency.
According to him, the training, which is aimed at enhancing mental health and psychosocial support services, is one critical aspect that the project cares and seeks to address.
The Managing Director of Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Maiduguri, Prof. Ibrahim Abdu Wakawa, expressed satisfaction with the training program, emphasizing the urgent need to enhance mental health services and support for those who have endured unimaginable suffering due to conflict.
Dr. Falmata Baba Shettima, the Director of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, also appreciated the organizers for the training.
She explained that by working in collaboration with partners like the World Bank-supported MCRP and the Borno State government, the center is better positioned to address the complex needs of survivors and promote healing and resilience.
Some of the participants, Dr. Fatima Kashim Zanna and Ibrahim Muhammad said they not only acquired new knowledge and skills but also applied them effectively in their daily practice to ensure that those in need receive the best possible care and support.
