EU Commissions Trauma Healing Center In Plateau

From Agabus Pwanagba, Jos

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – In its efforts to assist victims of conflicts, the European Union (EU), has set up a Trauma Healing Center in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, where victims can receive free medical treatment and trauma counseling.

This was confirmed Friday during a media tour, by the Country Director of Apurimac Onlus, Mr. Godwin Okoko. The Director said the organization has spent over N800 million in Plateau State and has been operating in the State since 2008, in the areas of peace-building, human development and social justice. Also, he informed that over 2,000 victims have so far accessed the centre.

Okoko said, “We have established four vocational skills training centres in each of the senatorial zones of the State.

“The vocational centres have trained over 14,000 women and youths in various skills, such as Diploma in Computer, Hairdressing, Tailoring, Knitting, GSM Repairs, Leather Works, Aluminum Works, Wielding/Fabrication, Catering and Decoration. For a period of six months every year, since 2009, while the trauma centre since inception in February 2014 has attended to more than 2000 traumatized victims of violent conflicts”.

Coordinator of the Centre, Barrister Edith Gumut, said it was the first of such health centre in the North Central State of Nigeria, where victims of violent conflicts and bomb blasts will receive free medical treatment and trauma counseling.

Gumut said, “From February, 2015 to date, we have handled 394 cases of victims, ranging from violent conflict, rape, among others.

“It became imperative for such a center to be set up as most victims of crisis end up being emotionally misfit to integrate themselves back into the society”, she explained.