By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), otherwise called Doctors
Without Borders has raised an alarm over growing mental ailment in parts of troubled
Northeast.
A statement on Monday in Maiduguri, lamented that desperate living conditions
and lack of protection have aggravated the mental health of people in parts of
the region.
The humanitarian group called for urgent reinforcement of humanitarian response
in the troubled area.
The statement said: “Desperate living conditions and lack of protection in
Pulka are exacerbating people’s acute mental health needs. There is an urgent
need for reinforcement of the humanitarian response in Pulka.”
It further said: “Life in Pulka is anything but easy. The town is close to the
frontline of the conflict between the military and non-state armed groups that
has devastated northeast Nigeria for the past decade.
“Of its population of around 71,000, more than 40,000 are people who have been
displaced from their homes elsewhere in Borno state.
With no civil
authorities present, Pulka is completely controlled by the military.
“People’s movements are limited to a short distance beyond the town’s perimeter
to farm, but many people do not feel safe going even that far.
“The inhabitants’ most basic needs – especially for shelter, clean water and
sanitation – are not properly covered. Some 12,000 displaced people are
currently staying in Pulka’s ‘transit camp’, some of them living in the open
for months on end. They are surviving on less than three litres of water each
day, far below the 15-20 litres of water per person per day recommended by
international humanitarian standards for emergencies.”
MSF further lamented that: “The displaced people have already fled violent
conflict and lost their livelihoods. Coming on top of this, the desperate
living conditions and lack of protection in Pulka are exacerbating people’s
acute mental health needs.”
One of those whose mental health has been affected in the crisis is Mohammed
Abba, aged 50, who fled his village, along with his two wives and 10 children,
after it was taken over by an armed group.
Abba left behind everything he owned, with his family now in Monguno, he is 200
km to the south, in Pulka’s camp number four.
On arrival in Pulka, he felt very alone and was despondent at having to depend
on aid for his survival. He said: “(I felt) heaviness on my chest, as if my
heart was swelling up. I was doing too much thinking – sometimes I’d just be
shedding tears – and I found it difficult to sleep at night. When I eventually
found sleep, I always dreamt of my nine relatives who were killed in front of
us by armed men in Nguroseye before we fled the town.”
This traumatic experiences have made Abba to have mental health problems, for
which he is receiving support from MSF – one of the 1,863 people to receive
mental health and psychosocial support from MSF in Pulka between January and
June this year.
“None of my children will bury me when I die”
Mariya Duniya and Zainab Audu, who are also receiving mental
health support from MSF.
For 80- year-old Mariya, life seems meaningless after four of her nine children
were killed during the crisis. Eventually, only elderly people were left in
their village, she said.
Mariya, who is now depressed and anxious about the future, said the Nigerian
military arrived their village on patrol and transported them to Pulka.
The statement said one in 25 patients had a severe mental health disorder with
psychiatric symptoms. As well as counselling, MSF provides pharmacological
treatment for patients with severe mental disorders.
It further said: “Unfortunately, mental healthcare is just one of a range of
needs in Pulka. MSF project coordinator Stine Jensen says there are major gaps
in the humanitarian response in Pulka that are having a huge impact on people’s
lives.”