The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
A CONSORTIUM of Government and Non-Governmental stakeholders, coordinated by Plan International, has pooled resources for the establishment of a one-stop child protection centre in Manicaland to directly respond to the devastating effects of Cyclone Idai.
The one-stop-shop, which will was launched last Saturday, at Tamandai in Chipinge, is expected to provide a package of multi-disciplinary services for the affected children and families in Chipinge, Chimanimani and Mutare districts.
The consortium comprises of child-focused NGOs that include Plan International and Childline as well as representatives from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the department of social welfare and the police victim friendly unit (VFU).
In an interview, Plan International child protection in emergencies specialist Mr Noah Ocholah said the centre would provide services that include psychosocial support through structured play and recreation at temporary child friendly spaces.
He said it would also provide group and individual counselling for children and their families, specialised mental health assistance, tracing of missing, separated and unaccompanied children, orphans and vulnerable groups, gender-based violence as well as running preventative awareness-raising campaigns.
“Child protection services are broad and unlimited. There is no single agency that has the capacity and expertise to meet all child protection needs,” said Mr Ocholah.
“A one-stop-shop is designed to bring key services that support the protection needs of abused, exploited and neglected children at one place.
“The shop is a mobile child protection unit made up of a team of professionals who travel to the affected villages taking protection services to children, youths and parents in hard to reach areas affected by the cyclone,” he added.
Mr Ocholah said the consortium will spread wings to other places through a joint approach with other actors.
“Referral support in areas of health, shelter, nutrition, birth registration, legal protection and education are also processed through the consortium.
“After this official launch in Tamandai we will spread out to other areas in Chipinge targeting ward 14, 8 and 2.
“Plans for a similar one-stop-shop approach targeting the most affected areas of Chimanimani is currently being worked on and will be launched this month,” he added.
Posttraumatic stress are the most common problems for those that have gone through disasters, and more so for children of school going age.
Psychologists have it that children’s reactions to a traumatic event can vary according to level of exposure, age, ability to understand the situation, gender, functioning prior to the event, personality style, resulting changes in living situations such as relocation, roles and responsibilities, support network, previous loss or trauma experience.
An emergency or disaster can be destructive to a child’s physical environment, as well as affect their mental health.
