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Mutsawashe Mashandure–Herald Correspondent
Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) yesterday held an awareness campaign for refugees at Tongogara Refugee Camp (TRC) in Chipinge on mental health, with the aim of improving their coping skills and resilience through non-specialised care, community participation, and empowerment.
Some of the resilience-building activities include sewing clubs, games, peer support, and psychological first aid.
The development comes as Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Refugee Day.
Tongogara Refugee Camp hosts over 15 000 refugees, most of them from the DRC, Mozambique, Burundi, and Rwanda.
While in their countries of origin, most refugees experienced traumatic events, including war, rape, torture, and physical injuries, which caused them to flee.
MSF mental health activity manager at Tongogara Refugee Camp, Mrs Janet Mukurumbira, said mental health support remains a priority as the centre is grappling with past traumatic events caused by war and conflict on most of the refugees.
“The people living in this camp were exposed to different kinds of trauma, fleeing war zones, separating from family, grief, human rights violations, and other stress factors they find in their countries of origin translate into psychological pressures that might affect their overall mental well-being,” she said.
MSF has a wellness centre, the Baobab House, at the Tongogara Refugee Centre that provides psycho-social support and recreational activities for the psycho-education for the refugees and asylum seekers in the camp.
Elina (26), a community supporter who has lived in the camp since she was six years old when her family fled Rwanda, said coming to the Baobab House has helped her address anger issues through speaking with the MSF psychologist.
“Before MSF came into this camp, I was always stressed and angry. There was no place to go and relieve stress and express my feelings. With the role I was given — as a community supporter — I can now interact with others in the community,” said Elina.
Ms Mukurumbira added that prolonged stay in the camp makes many people worried and anxious about their future.
“Life in the camp rarely gives them hope for the future, as chances of resettlement to other countries are limited for various reasons.
“The burden of unaddressed grief, loss, trauma and depression was visible whilst talking with most. The refugees overwhelmingly reported experiencing uncertainty and lack of control over their lives and futures.
“The passivity of life in a refugee camp aggravated feelings of meaninglessness and powerlessness,” said Mrs Mukurumbira.
Government is also committed to increasing prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services for mental health patients.
Mental health disorders are one of the top five causes of the high disease burden in Zimbabwe. It is estimated that 60 percent of the mental health cases in the country are due to substance abuse.
In 2019, UNICEF revealed that two thirds of children in Zimbabwe have experienced violent discipline and are vulnerable to mental health challenges.
The research also shows that Covid-19 and lockdown measures have exacerbated protection risks among children and adolescents, contributing to increased mental health challenges.
Research shows that most refugees have faced many traumatic events whilst in their home countries due to war and conflict and the distress emanating from these events and other stress factors affect their mental well-being.
Online Reporter