When
Sumitra Sumi heard on December 26 about the tsunami striking
several kilometres from her home, she knew her skills would
be needed. The 27-year-old mother works in a health centre supported
by the Canadian Red Cross and International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC), providing first aid and hygiene awareness
to the community of Ootu Pulam in Sri Lanka.
Sumitra rushed to the coast that day where, together with 48
other Red Cross health workers from similar centres, she provided
first aid to the injured.
In addition to treating physical wounds, she now will address
another significant threat for survivors—the psychological
impact of the tsunami.
The Canadian Red Cross will train Sumitra and her colleagues
to provide psycho-social support, along with first aid and hygiene
awareness to the displaced people living in transit camps.
Coordinating the training is Judi Fairholm, director of abuse
prevention services for the Canadian Red Cross and Canadian
Red Cross health delegate, Dr. Lily Montano. They are part of
a Canadian Red Cross assessment mission to determine long term
recovery programmes for the thousands of people affected. Judi
and Lily’s field assessment for health programming began
in March in the north of the island.
Fred Robarts, head of the ICRC operations in Jaffna reports
that the psychological effects of the disaster have been profound.
In the north, more than 90% of the population has been displaced
at least once prior to the tsunami due to the conflict between
the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Now the latest cause of devastation and loss was the source
of their livelihood and an integral part of their existence.
“People directly impacted by the tsunami lived by the
sea and thought they knew it. They had felt the effects of conflict
but now have discovered they are not safe from nature either.
They are asking, ‘what is left?’”
Dr. Daya Somasundaram of Jaffna University confirms that psycho-social
assistance is a critical priority in order for people to recover
from devastating losses.
According to the Head of Psychiatry for the Department of Medicine,
the significant issues now threatening the communities in the
aftermath of the tsunami are an increase in depression, sleeping
disorders, suicide and alcoholism.
This is a serious problem in a country that already rates seventh
highest in the world for suicides according to the World Health
Organisation (WHO).
Men represent a group at high risk. Many were witness to the
demise of their family members, as women and children constituted
a large percentage of those killed.
In a society where gender roles are clearly defined, men now
find themselves confronting a double burden as heads of single
parent households. Their personal loss, combined with the destruction
of their livelihoods, leaves them at great risk from the psychological
impact of the disaster.
Dr. Somasundram notes that children and youth are also suffering,
as evidenced by nightmares, fears and heightened emotions.
But he stresses that well meaning organizations must take into
account the type of psychological assistance required as well
as the cultural context in which it is delivered.
He notes that less than 10 per cent of people suffering from
depression or trauma following the tsunami require professional
help—rather they need community-based interventions such
as befriending, listening and sharing activities.
“Survivors struggle with guilt, replaying the event. There
is a need for support groups, and an understanding of stress
and tension and how to relieve it.” He also recommends
rituals and remembrance events in order to help the mourning
process.
Accordingly, Dr. Somasundaram has adapted a training programme
he developed for delivering psycho-social support to the conflict-affected
population to now meet the needs of tsunami survivors.
Recently, Sri Lankan Red Cross volunteers from Ampara, Batticoloa,
Tricomalee and Jaffna completed the training in order to deliver
support to their communities.
In March, the Canadian Red Cross and ICRC will support Sumitra
and her colleagues to undergo the training and plans to expand
the team to 1,000 health workers who will deliver assistance
throughout the country.
Father Damien agrees that cultural appropriate training is critical.
The priest, who holds a degree in psychology from the University
of Ottawa, runs a non-governmental organization, the Holistic
Health Centre, which provides psycho-social programmes for school
children and their parents.
He supervises 60 community workers who carry out the programme
in the Jaffna region. “There were instances where well
meaning individuals arrived to deliver psychological help to
survivors. They took children to the sea. It traumatized them
a second time,” he says.
The Danish Red Cross also supports war-affected children together
with the ICRC, delivering a psycho-social programme for school
children in the region since 2003. The Red Cross has trained
teachers in 20 schools to provide after school sessions for
children, grades six and eight. Each student attends the programme
weekly for a period of six months, learning about such topics
as reconciliation and cooperation.
The Canadian Red Cross team continues their assessment with
their next stop in Ampara on the east coast.
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Red
Cross community health worker Sumitra Sumi will now deliver
psycho-social assistance to the tsunami-affected population
following a ten-day training course (p12809)
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Many
men are left to play non-traditional roles due to the
loss of their spouse (p12811)
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Dr.
Lily Montano and Judi Fairholm of the Canadian Red Cross
consult with Dr. Dayo Somasundram regarding the psycho-social
impact of tsunami (p12812)
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