In October 2023, the spillage of the Akosombo Dam introduced on catastrophic flooding in some districts of the Jap, Volta, and Increased Accra regions, displacing hundreds of americans and leaving a path of destruction. For many, the flood used to be better than a bodily catastrophe—it used to be a profound emotional shock. Households wakened to search out their homes submerged, their assets destroyed, and their lives grew to alter into upside down. The shortcoming of homes, livelihood, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead created an overwhelming sense of dread and despair amongst the affected communities.
The psychological affect of the catastrophe used to be a long way-reaching. Young americans struggled with the trauma of shedding their safe areas, while americans battled emotions of helplessness as they faced an unsure future. Scientific examiners, lots of whom salvage been additionally victims of the flood, chanced on themselves below gigantic stress to provide care and give a increase to to others while going by their possess injure. For these with pre-fresh psychological smartly being prerequisites, the catastrophe worsened their struggles, and others began experiencing symptoms of dread, despair, and post-anxious stress.
Public smartly being emergencies devour the floods attributable to the Akosombo dam spillage on the total present a huge but unnoticed final consequence of such failures—the stress on psychological smartly being. Left unaddressed, these challenges can hinder restoration efforts and leave lengthy-time length scars on the affected populations. Recognizing this, the World Health Organization (WHO), with funding from UK in Ghana, stepped in to address the urgent want for psychological smartly being and psychosocial give a increase to products and services.
Dr. Leveana Gyimah, Technical Officer for Mental Health at WHO, emphasised the importance of prioritizing psychological smartly being real by public emergencies:
“Floods and other natural disasters don’t just destroy property—they leave deep emotional scars. The psychological impact can be long-lasting, affecting not just individuals but entire communities. By integrating mental health and psychosocial support into the flood response, we’ve been able to bring relief to those most affected and build the capacity of health workers to address these needs.”
Among the lots of beneficiaries of this program used to be Richard Sedem Ahakutor, a psychological smartly being nurse from Sogakope, who skilled psychological smartly being challenges real by the catastrophe. “The flood was overwhelming. I lost everything, and at the same time, I was expected to help others cope. It became too much to handle. Thanks to the support I received through this intervention, I was able to get back on my feet and continue supporting my community,” he shared.
Dr. Senanu Kwesi Dzokoto, Volta Regional Director of Ghana Health Companies, highlighted the broader affect of the initiative. He said, “Emergencies like this expose the gaps in our mental health support systems. WHO’s collaboration with the Mental Health Authority has allowed us to respond effectively to the needs of flood victims, ensuring that both residents and health workers receive the help they deserve. This intervention has been a critical step toward building a more resilient health system.”
To originate sure that that the affected americans got holistic care, scientific psychologists and psychiatrists salvage been deployed to provide counseling and consultants psychiatrists products and services. Dr. Richard Dei-Asamoa, a scientific psychologist and psychiatrist at Korle-Bu Instructing Hospital, mirrored on the significance of psychological smartly being products and services in catastrophe scenarios:
“Mental health is often overlooked during emergencies, but it is one of the most critical aspects of recovery. People need help to process their grief, anxiety, and trauma. This initiative has demonstrated how integrating mental health and psychosocial support services into disaster response can truly transform lives and communities.”
This collaborative effort has introduced reduction and hope to these plagued by the Akosombo floods, demonstrating that addressing psychological smartly being is good as predominant as providing food, refuge, and scientific care real by emergencies. Due to of funding from UK in Ghana, the initiative has reinforced psychological smartly being systems in the dwelling, leaving a lasting affect on the lives of survivors and scientific examiners alike.
For Extra Information or to Ask of Interviews, Please contact:
Abdul-Lahie Abdul-Rahim Naa
Communications Officer
WHO Ghana Country Voice of labor
Electronic mail: abdullahiea [at] who.int (abdullahiea[at]who[dot]int)
Tel: +233 20 196 2393
