REPORTS

Quarterly Report of IPTP Activities.
January to April, 2006

Report of IPTP Visits
Sehar Hasan, Clinical Psychologist

Report of  Visit to Earthquake Hit Areas

3rd International Congress of Association of International Womens Mental Health

ARTICLES

USE of Media-Radio and Cable TV in Earthquake Areas of NWFP.
Haider Husain: Post-graduate in Psychiatry

Experience with children. Z. Meher Hasan, Senior Clinical Psychologist

Impressions of 4th Visit to Earthquake Hit Areas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Quarterly Report of IPTP Activities
January to April, 2006

The devastating earthquake on the 8th of October, 2005 was undoubtedly the worst disaster in the history of Pakistan. The extent and enormity of the destruction of property, civic infrastructure and the loss of human lives was over whelming. IPTP, felt though the task of helping these victims was a mammoth job, particularly dealing with the psychotrauma, Undoubtedly, something needed to be done to lift them from the rubble, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually from the despondency and depression which this devastation and depression which this devastation will continue to make them suffer for years to come. It was decided to target the risk group first, namely women, children & the disabled.The tent villages had several tent school where children as well as the teachers needed to deal with and handle their fears, grief, sorrow, anxiety & depression.

Besides early therapeutic interventions, we planned to regularly follow-up these children and teachers for two to four years, to facilitate a smooth rhabilitation of these vulnerable group Counseling and Psycho-Trauma therapy for women & Play group therapy for children.

OBJECTIVIES:

  1. To train mental health professionals (including army personnel), teachers and volunteers to be able to recognize, identify and prevent, effects of psycho-trauma and stress in the victims of earth quake as well as the volunteers themselves.
  2. Handling Psycho-trauma in women and children.
  3. To study the psychosocial impact of the earthquake upon the victims and to develop new techniques for handling psychotrauma as well as to adapt internationally tested techniques according to the local cultural milieu.
  4. Using media in public awareness of Psycho trauma & other disaster related information.

TRAINING:

  • IPTP Conducted Certificate Courses “Training the Trainers in Handling Psycho trauma “ in Earthquake areas in Karachi.
  • It also conducted three courses for PIA, Care Team Members.
  • Several Teachers Training Courses in Tent Camp Schools to run play groups with children.
  • Planned Training * sensitization of Media-Reporters in TV, RADIO & PRINT MEDIA, in psycho trauma.

GROUP WORK:

Briefly, we are continuing six weekly follow up of our study groups, visiting the earthquake areas,from Karachi. Trained school teachers to conduct play group with children on weekly record of children's behaviour, activity and academic six weekly during our visits.The adult women & men's groups & injured women in hospital are also followed wkly by our locally trained psychologists & general doctors, psychiatrist trained in handling psycho trauma by our IPTP-GROUP.

  1. Our Play Group for Children, in Three Camp School in Balakot & one each in havelian & Mansehra have been a great success. The teachers find them very useful groups where they play games, paint tell and write stories etc.
  2. Group for parents of these school children – separate groups for Men & Women.
  3. Work with injured single, widowed, or abandoned women hospitals
Sehar Hassan and Dr.Niaz teaching Group Relexation (Breathing Exercise) to School in

RESEARCH WORK:

It is extremely important to conduct surveys in earthquake hit areas to obtain statistic about “Prevalence, types and nature of mental health problems of suffers” Hence, recognizing the need for research work, following research studies are being conducted by IPTP.

  1. Prevalence of PTSD in earthquakes survivors in NWFP.
  2. Longitudinal studies of PTSD in risk group (Destitude Women and Children)
  3. Survey of PTSD in adolescents and young adults in Abbottabad and Mansehra. (WMC medical College and Jinnah Colleges Mansehra).

OUTCOME IN THE LAST FIVE MONTHS FOLLOW UP:

After the follow up of the women, children (& their parents, IPTP, has concluded that there has to be a comprehensive, well-planned, well though course of actions with the collaboration of knowledgeable people of these areas. Nothing can be imposed on people.

Considering these people's capabilities, attachment to their psyche (view of world, themselves and their own environment). We must accept it as a tremendous natural calamity, which may have brought out the negative aspects of human nature. E.g. laziness, exploitation and history similar human reactions are common following any disaster. This should not deter use in our efforts to help rebuild what is lost. And also further reason that majority of the people are innocent victims and basically good human beings who no means to spring back and reconstruct their lives. Particularly the children who do no even realize what they have lost and there is little understanding of their loss and suffering and desperate emotional needs. They are fragile, silent sufferers, unable to communicate their needs and distress.

World Pshychiatric Association Meeting in Agra, Dec 2005.(L-R President Prof. Jaun Mezzich, Dr. Unaiza Niaz, Prof.WIG & Chairperson Task Force for Earthquake Prof. Helen Hermen ).

They are easily neglected and ignored as they seem superficially all right smiling, running around & playing. But closer look at their eyes and demeanor clearly conveys their depth of suffering. Tears come instantly to anyone's eyes who looks in depth and understanding what they are going through. There is remote sadness in their eyes always, even when apparent denial of any pain or suffering is taken by adults around as if children are incapable of deep memories and feeling and that they forget traumatic experiences easily.


Best way to help the future population is to reconstruct school system which is sensitive to children's needs. Train teachers to be sensitive and other adults if possible (i.e. inform, formally educate them about child's emotional, psychological, social and physical needs). Teachers must be trained to cater to the children's needs, identify their vulnerabilities, support and nature the children at risk (orphans, injured, handicapped). The most important aspect of education must be to discipline, and build up their inherent strength and morale.


Another observation made by IPTP, was there were several young educated women ready and eager to learn and capable of being trained as teachers. This wealth of educated, enthusiastic and willing young as one of the pillars in restructuring the new society. Looking from gender perspective women in NWFP and AJK are highly educated and literacy rates are as high as 80% & in one village 100% Women by becoming professionals, especially as teachers will be playing an important role in building their new society, and there by they will certainly by empowered.!!!


Unaiza Niaz
Member, WPA Task Force on Earthquake in AJK, NWFP, Pakistan

   
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