Participants at a national workshop to discuss the management of post traumatic stress disorders, PTSDs, in Nigeria, say strategic partnerships among stakeholders, coupled with improved capacity building and increased funding, are key to delivering efficient post traumatic response to victims of natural and man-made disasters in the country.

The workshop, organised by Murtala Muhammed Foundation, MMF, in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, lamented the existing Draft National Guidelines for the Management of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders in Nigeria is outdated and not robust enough to capture the needs of the victims of disasters in Nigeria.

In a communique, the participants called for cooperation among key stakeholders to provide medical and social support; rapid assessment using first responders and religious leaders; capacity building targeted at caregivers and task shifting; as well as subsidy/tax free laws to stimulate local production of needed medications, amongst others.

They also recommended that the National Assembly should pass bills that would allow a specific percentage of the federation account be allocated to agencies dedicated to the management of psychological distress after disaster, as well as that mandating corporate organisations to dedicate a percentage of their CSR budget to post traumatic stress care

On developing an appropriate structure for post-traumatic care in Nigeria, the participants, made up of national and international players in the field of mental and community health, psychology, psychiatry, social work, and counseling, advocated for the incorporation of disaster response modules into the schools programme. They called for special attention for women, children and the elderly in the draft structure.

Aisha Oyebode, the CEO, MMF, said the workshop was convened to provide a platform for the evolution of a robust framework for the management of psychological trauma in disaster situations in the country.