War, war and war has left about half the population of South Sudan traumatized. People are into the state of post-traumatic stress symptoms.
About a year ago government army attacked Mary Poni’s house in Yei town. They decapitated her father and raped her elder sister too. She attempted committing suicide twice.
The 25-year-old currently lives in capital city Juba and receiving some psychological support. She said, “I don’t sleep… Whenever I try closing my eyes, I see my dad’s head falling before me.”
South Sudan is under civil war for past five years. About 40,000 people have been killed and survivors like Poni are traumatized. Millions have been displaced struggling with mental and emotional strain due to living in camps or squalid conditions.
There is just one hospital ward equipped with eight beds under mental health programme for more than 10 million people. There is only one psychologist to look after all.
More to these, not even 2 percent of funding is allocated towards the health sector and nothing for the mental health services as per a statement of state minister of health Felix Lado Johnson.
India is trying to build a mental health centre for the country in Juba. It is just in a commitment phase and construction is yet to begin.
There’s couple of informal support working in the country to assist mental patients as in the case of Poni.
However, it is to understand deeply that level of disaster in the country is enormous and consequences will be felt for the whole generation of kids who are now growing up.
