Psychological support

IT’S about time that our community members, especially village headmen, village nurses and village/settlement disaster risk committees are trained with basic skills on providing psychological support to members of our affected communities before counsellors arrive.

The Fiji Times report of Thursday, December 31, 2020 reported the need for more psychological support for children and adults affected by STC Yasa and those that will follow.

I was assigned to work on Vanuabalavu after STC Winston and whenever a lightning occurred or continuous heavy rain with strong winds, I could sense fear in children.

I’m sure our Ministry of Disaster Management can spare within their budget, or seek assistance from AUSAID DFAT or NZ MFAT to conduct these trainings for members of our communities as first responders before qualified counsellors arrived for further follow ups.

JIOJI MASIVESI CAKACAKA Votualevu, Nadi

Picture: SUPPLIED A writer believes village headmen, village nurses and village/settlement disaster risk committees should be trained with basic skills on providing psychological support to members of our affected communities before counsellors arrive. Vaseva Daumaka after the Category 5 cyclone hit her island home.