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JUBA - 20 Nov 2018

Mental illnesses on the rise at a Juba IDP camp: health practitioner

A mental health officer at  Mangateen neighborhood, now hosting internally displaced persons in Juba, says the health facility in the camp records patients with mental illnesses on a daily basis.

Martha Nyagea James told Radio Tamazuj that most of the IDPs have faced difficult times that have affected their mental health.

“Since these people came to the camp, they have many mental problems. Some of them have been abused especially the women lost so many things. They are really stressed, even the men. In a day I get about 3 to four cases of mental cases,” she said.

Nyagea further said most of the cases recorded include psychosis, severe depression, alcohol dependence, epilepsy, and substance abuse among others. She added that more women seek medical attention as compared to men.

“The men do not come out. The women are able to come out. Mostly the problem is mainly housing, food financial issues, so am unable to help them. If I counsel them I give them drugs but I have not taken them from the past situation,” she lamented.

The health care provider also noted that despite challenges facing the IDPs, the health facility also has its own challenges. Nyagea said there is a shortage of medical personnel as well as medication to cater for the people at the camp regardless of the support they receive from other health partners.

“We have lack of doctors, we are around five at the outpatient, four men and me. We really need more doctors and facilities. The medicines are not enough,” she added.