Posted on 18 October, 2012
On Thursday we rose with the sun and headed out to the surface water treatment site to see if we could get the system to produce clean water. A day earlier, the pumps at the Bamtiko borehole — the main source of water for Jamam refugee camp — had failed. The NGO that was responsible for water supply in the camp had made an urgent request to MSF to set up emergency water treatment capacity. Waterborne disease had always been one of the primary threats for the refugee population in this place, but with hepatitis E now also spreading in the camp, ensuring safe water supply was more critical than ever. MSF agreed to do what we could to fill the gap.
Photo: A patient tells his story during a mental health consultation in Dagahaley camp. Kenya 2012 © Robin Hammond
Psychologists Sans Frontières: Bringing Mental Health Care to People Who Need It
During wars or following natural disasters, the proportion of people suffering from depression or anxiety—both normal reactions to traumatic events—often doubles or triples. In extreme situations, the whole population experiences increased anxiety or sadness. Most people get through it alone or with the help of friends and family. But for others, psychological or psychiatric care is necessary.
Psychologists are an integral part of our teams, and play a vital role in patient recovery. In 2011, MSF psychologists carried out almost 17,000 individual mental health consultations and 19,2000 group counseling sessions. Learn more about how and why we’re providing mental health care in projects around the world.
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