The collapse of the Alau Dam in Maiduguri and the consequential flooding that has occurred in
the city is a disaster on so many fronts. Scores of lives have been lost and counting, several
family members remain trapped or unaccounted for, with nearly two million displaced persons.
This is a tragedy on a monumental scale. Several heart-breaking stories are coming out that
depict the scale of the losses and trauma that the entire city and her people are going through.
Imagine going to bed at night and waking up to your entire house, belongings, valuables, cars
completely submerged under water. Salvaging anything was simply unthinkable….other than
attaining safety. A woman narrated how she woke up at 1am to the sound of water in her home
and had to shout for help to be rescued with her children. Some simply managed to climb unto
the roof of their houses and waited to be rescued.
Those who managed to be rescued suddenly find themselves in a situation where they are
rendered homeless with no single possession or household item, no food or clothes – other
than what they had on their backs. The scale of loss is better imagined than experienced. Thus,
many have now sought shelter with friends and families whose areas were not affected. The
hosting households are also stretched to breaking point due to scarcity of food, relief materials,
clean water, sanitary facilities etc.
In addition to the foregoing, several thousands are still searching for loved ones and remain
unsure where they are, if they made it alive or if it is their dead bodies that will be recovered.
The uncertainty, worry, anxiety and trauma is unprecedented. Many are simply in a state of
shock and disbelief, while others are just overwhelmed. The psychological trauma is immense.
Psychological trauma?
Trauma is derived from the Greek word for ‘wound’. Psychological trauma occurs when we are
exposed to extraordinarily stressful events that shatter our sense of security, making you feel
helpless in a dangerous or life threatening situation. Thus, such situations result in a
psychological wound or injury, as a result of the traumatic experiences, involving a threat to our
life or safety. It is often accompanied by difficulty with coping or functioning normally following
a particularly traumatic event or experience. Everyone’s reaction is different, but the majority
of those who experience a potentially traumatic event will recover well – with the support of
family and friends, and will not experience any long-term problems.
What is the psychological impact of disasters?
The diverse spectrum of emotional reactions in the aftermath of disasters usually vary from
person to person. But they can be categorized broadly into two categories:
A). Emotional reactions: These include feelings of confusion and disbelief, with questions such
as ‘why did this happen to me?’. Shock, denial, anger, anxiety, feelings of guilt etc. Others may experience shame, feelings of sadness, hopelessness, social withdrawal from society, feeling
like a burden, loss of sense of personal dignity and feeling vulnerable and at the mercy of the
goodwill of others.
B). Physical symptoms: May include difficulty falling asleep, or having recurrent nightmares,
fatigue and tiredness, muscle tension, being on edge and jumping easily at loud or sudden
noises, racing heart beats and feeling numb.
These symptoms frequently last for some days and then subside, but some of these symptoms
may persist for several months and then gradually fade away over time. The majority will
benefit from psychosocial support as well as interventions and treatment.
What Can We Do?
- Safety, Shelter, Basic Needs: The government and all well-wishers need to firstly guarantee
safety, shelter and basic needs such as food, water, clothes and sanitation. - Ensure personal dignity and privacy as best as possible: High achieving adults and successful
individuals may suddenly become helpless and vulnerable. Paying attention to their sense of
personal dignity and some privacy helps to restore some of their self confidence. - Medical Care: Several may have suffered physical injuries or infections and may need
comprehensive medical check up and treatment. - Psychosocial Support: The range of adverse and often traumatic experiences that the
survivors have gone through is likely to leave emotional scars that may be deep-seated. They
may also be going through emotional turmoil; as well as symptoms of post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) e.t.c.
Family members too – may also be wracked by guilt and a sense of failure that they were
helpless and could not protect their loved ones….especially where they have lost a child or
spouse or sibling or relative that they could not save in the floods. Thus, the entire family and
loved ones may require psychosocial support to navigate all of their uncertainties and worries.
The Asido Foundation (www.asidofoundation.com) is joining hands with the Federal
Neuropsychiatric Hospital (FNPH) Maiduguri and the Center for Health Ethics, Law and
Development (CHELD) to provide Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) to affected
persons in Maiduguri. All stakeholders and all hands need to be on deck – Disasters are not for
governments alone to handle.
Dr Jibril Abdulmalik
Tribune Article for the column “Your Mental Health & You”
Thursday, 19th September 2024
Asido Foundation
www.asidofoundation.com
Asivuri Consulting
www.asivuri.com
