(A297) Psychosocial Care for Children Survivors of Tsunami Disaster - Pondicherry Response, India

BACKGROUND: Tsunami left 7997 people dead in Tamil Nadu. Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Kanyakumari districts were worst affected in terms of human and property loss. Highest number of children death (1776) were reported in Nagai District. In Project Area, Totally 522 children died due to tsunami in Pondicherry (152), Cuddalore (222), Chennai (48) respectively. Considering massive death of Children in Tsunami Disaster, Rural Development Integrated organization (RIDO) along with partnership of Plan International and Technical Support from National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS) provided psychosocial care for tsunami affected children in the regions of Union territory of Pondicherry, Cuddalore and Chennai. METHODS: Totally 150 community level workers; 50 from each region were selected and trained for a period of 1 week on psychosocial care for children affected in Disaster through using different mediums by master trainers who underwent intensive Training of Trainers program on psychosocial care for tsunami affected children at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore which is a nodal agency in India on psychosocial care in Disaster management. Psychosocial care program for tsunami affected children was carried out over a period of 2 years in afore said regions and handholding support was given to the community level workers periodically in the field. RESULTS: The psychosocial care program was provided for children in their own community by their own community volunteers through group based activities using different mediums. Mediums used to provide psychosocial care were unique in their own way which brought out the underlying emotions of children related to tsunami. Emotional perceptions differed among children across the age groups. Involving the community level workers in providing the psychosocial care for children survivors of tsunami disaster showed encouraging results. Challenges, limitations and lessons learnt in providing psychosocial care for tsunami affected children through community level workers will be discussed.