USAID’s Jigerduu Jarandar project, in cooperation with the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health, has launched a mental health assistance program for residents of Batken region affected by the recent armed conflict that occurred on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border in this spring.

This program will be implemented from September 2021 to January 2022 in partnership with “Sem’ya and Obschestvo (Family and Society)” public association and will include the following:

• a series of training activities for local medical professionals in Batken and Leilek districts on identification, treatment, and prevention of mental illness;

• training activities for the local committee for prevention of domestic violence in Leilek district, as well as local social workers and specialists for Batken and Leilek districts on the topics of safe support and work with conflict victims, including survivors of gender-based and domestic violence;

• training for local officials involved in the delivery of assistance to the population affected during Batken conflict in order to provide them with knowledge on how to manage stress and prevent and overcome emotional burnout in the context of emergency situations;

• assistance to government authorities in developing a guide on primary psychological and mental health care services and basic social and legal support in emergencies and crisis situations for public and municipal authorities, as well as non-governmental organizations providing such services. “An important element of this initiative will include mental health assistance directly provided by multidisciplinary teams of the Ministry of Health, consisting of qualified psychologists and psychiatrists, to the populations of Arka, Karabak, Kok Tash, Kyzyl Bel, Kulundu, Jashtyk, Maksat, Arke, and Razzakov villages,” said Lilia Panteleyeva, psychiatrist and head of “Semya and Obschestvo” public association.

On April 28-30, 2021, an armed conflict erupted on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border which resulted in 36 casualties and more than 180 people injured, according to the official reports, with more than 60 000 civilians displaced. As reported by the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health, every fifth person affected by the conflict suffers from various types of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Jigerduu Jarandar project is funded by USAID and implemented by FHI 360. The Project is supporting the efforts of Kyrgyz civil society organizations, their networks, and their leadership in strengthening civic participation in Kyrgyzstan.

Source: Kyrgyz National News Agency