Psychosocial care workshop for Kashmir quake survivors

Srinagar, Oct 19 (UNI) A review workshop on psychosocial care for survivors of the devastating earthquake of October 8 last year was held here, an official spokesman said today.

The workshop, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Health department in collaboration with Bangalore-based NIMHANS and Care India here last evening, coincided with the completion of one year of psychosocial care interventions, he added.

During the workshop, the spokesman said presentations were made on the activities of state health department in the earthquake-hit areas of Uri and Tangdhar. A need was felt to have better co-ordination between various agencies operating in such post-disaster conditions to render better medical and psychosocial relief to the survivors.

The speakers dwelt on steps to facilitate an informed debate, reviewing issues such as what had been accomplished, the gaps and the future direction of psychosocial care for quake survivors.

He said the objectives of the workshop were to understand the psychosocial needs of the quake survivors, the process of empowerment in imparting psychosocial care and identification of future areas of work of psychosocial care.

The NIMHANS, the premier mental health institute, had been identified as a nodal agency in providing services and organising effective, efficient and coordinated psychosocial care to the survivors of disasters in collaboration with social organisations which have been working in the area, the spokesman added.

He said the workshop also provided an opportunity to bring together professionals, institutions, social organisations and volunteers to review, reflect, share and identify ways and means of rebuilding and reconciling the quality of life of quake survivors.

Various activities undertaken in the workshop were discussions, compilation of organisational experience for background document, oral and poster presentations, the spokesman added.

UNI AG RR GC1437