Trauma counselors advised to visit victims

GICUMBI – World Vision’s Twiyubake project on Monday completed an 11-day trauma counseling training for over 40 health workers and persons of integrity drawn from Gicumbi district. Closing the training at Byumba Anglican Church (EER) conference hall, Byumba Hospital director, Dr. Fred Muhairwe, called on the participants to utilize the knowledge and skills acquired to help especially genocide survivors. “Trauma cases resulting from 1994 genocide against Tutsi are still visible among Rwandans, that is why you should utilize the knowledge acquired to heal the many broken souls within your localities,” said Muhairwe. Dr. Muhairwe further called on trauma counselors to make regular visits to homes of trauma victims so as to ascertain their health improvement status. “Counseling is the only perfect method to eradicate trauma cases in the Rwandan society,” he stressed. World Vision Twiyubake project coordinator, Godfrey Gakwandi, promised to extend similar training packages to various categories of people in the district. According to him, the trainees are expected to train others in their respective localities. Gakwandi said the training was carried out in four phases, in which a wide range of subjects were covered. “Those who have completed the course underwent training in trauma counseling, domestic conflict resolution, unity and reconciliation, emotional management and the importance of genocide commemoration,” he said. Gicumbi district officer in-charge of good governance, Joseph Munyezamu, said the district is committed to working in close collaboration with World Vision Twiyubake project to stem trauma cases in the entire district. One of the trainees, Germaine Uwiragiye, a nurse at Byumba Hospital said the training shall enable her to handle trauma cases effectively. “This training has enabled me to acquire counseling skills to trauma victims which include consolation, close monitoring and parental advice,” said Uwiragiye. Ends