Hardship: German Catholic Bishop tasks FG, others on trauma treatment of Nigerians

The Misereor Dialogue and Partnership Service (DPS) in Nigeria, German Catholic Bishops Conference Organisation for Development Cooperation, has urged the Federal Government, individuals and corporate organisations to assist Nigerians overcome their traumatic experiences due to the socio-economic challenges in the country.

They made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the formal launch of ‘Stories of Pain and Hope’, brochure, a 36-page compilation of narrated scenarios of sociocultural mishappenings that exposes individuals to certain traumatic experiences and how best to handle them.

The Head of the DPS, Julia Krojer, said the publication is a collaborative effort of dedicated individuals from De Merillac Centre for Street Children, Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, FJDP Makurdi, Hope for the Village Child Foundation, JDPC Bauchi, JDPC Ekiti, JDPC Ibadan and JDPC Jos, among others.

She said that this was in a response to the prevailing social unrest, characterized by violent conflict, kidnapping, terrorism, displacement and refugee crises, gender based violence, childhood trauma, impact of natural disaster and systemic challenge in the Nigerian society.

“The publication employs a community-based approach to address the complex interplay of individual, interpersonal, community, and structural factors that contribute to trauma. And included four different stories that reflect the traumatic experiences of people, especially girls and women in Nigeria daily,” Krojer said.

Speaking earlier, the Secretary General of Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Rev. Fr. Zachariah Nyantiso Samjumi, noted that stress and trauma can come in many forms and that the persisting economic hardship in the country can be traumatising enough for anybody.

The Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRISED), Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi; Executive Director, Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF), Mrs Mabel Adinya Ade; Mr Dane Fredenburg, Deputy Country Director, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the office of the head of gender case management, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs! and Pastor Hanna Kuster of the German Church, among others also called for psychological and other stress relief assistance for Nigerians.