Mental Health Problems of Mass Trauma in Africa - AC all for Action -

							Mental Health Problems of Mass
       Trauma in Africa
     - A Call for Action -
            Dr. Seggane Musisi
     Makerere University Medical School
     Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.

             Dr. Richard Mollica
     Harvard Program for Refugee Trauma
             Harvard University
                       Perspective
   60 Countries around the world are affected by mass
    trauma today ; affecting one billion people.

   Of all continents, Africa has the greatest no. of
    outbreaks of new traumatic events per year
   Most of these are due to warfare, causing millions of
    refugees & displacements

   Presently we have active militarized conflicts in 2/3 of
    African countries

   The source of weapons is often developed countries
                      Problem
   Africa is overburdened by poverty and physical
    diseases e.g. malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis

   Two major mental health challenges : HIV and
    mass trauma in Africa

   Very limited literature on the mental health
    problems of mass trauma in Africa & its effects.

   Cross – sectional Study carried out in Uganda,
    Rwanda & Ethiopia in affected communities.
Survivors are mostly women, children & elderly
living in poverty as refugees, exiles, or IDP camps
Children are often orphaned, malnourished, and don’t go to school;
           leading to effects which will last generations.
Survivors often have severe traumatizations,
     disfigurements & Sexual trauma
Physical traumas are common including beatings,
land-mines, gunshots, cuts, wounds, fractures etc.
Survivors suffer high rates of mental illness
(PTSD, depression, alcoholism, anxiety, etc.)
   CALL FOR ACTION: Governance,
      Interventions & Prevention.
           Economic Development
               Social Capital
               Human Rights


                                   Health & Mental Health
                                         Recovery


  MASS
VIOLENCE
                                  Health & Mental Health
                                       Impairment




                                     ACTION PLAN
PROJECT : 1 BILLION




SARAJEVO, SEPT.21-24, 2002
            Recommendations
    National & International efforts to stop warfare
    and promote peaceful conflict resolution
   Effect Mental Health interventions & governance
   Recognize gender, age differences, & needs
   Community & infrastructure reconstruction
   Build democratic institutions & culture
   Curtail the global trade in weapons.
   Local problems called for Global solutions
           Framework for Mental Health
                   Recovery
                               I. Policy/Legislation


         VI. Linkage to
Economic Development/                                   II. Financing
      Human Rights

                               RECOVERY
           V. Role of                                   III. Science-Based
    International Agencies                            Mental Health Services



                             IV. Multi-Disciplinary
                                   Education