Yobe Govt. lauds Plan International for supporting psychological first aid training
Yobe Govt. lauds Plan International for supporting psychological first aid training
The Yobe State Government has commended Plan International, with support from the Zurich Foundation, for sponsoring a six-day workshop on Psychological First Aid (PFA) aimed at enhancing the state’s emergency response capacity.
Dr Muhammed Goje, Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), gave the commendation on Thursday during the closing ceremony of the training in Damaturu.
He noted that the initiative aligned with Gov. Mai Buni’s priorities in strengthening disaster preparedness and emergency response systems across the state.
“We sincerely appreciate Plan International and the Zurich Foundation for aligning with Gov. Buni’s vision.
“This is a very important and timely training, as emergencies and disasters continue to occur,” Goje said.
He emphasised that while many disasters might be unavoidable, preparedness particularly psychological readiness was critical in reducing their long-term effects.
“Responding to disaster is not just about providing meals or basic items for victims.
“Psychological support is equally vital.
“A person who loses family and property worth millions and receives only food assistance still lives with deep trauma.
“Without psychological help, that trauma spreads across communities and affects societal wellbeing,” he explained.
Goje urged other development partners to integrate psychological support into their humanitarian responses, alongside food and non-food item distributions.
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Dr Nasiru Mustapha, Project Coordinator of the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance, who represented Plan International, described the workshop as “wonderful, exciting, and quite interesting.”
He said 47 master trainers were trained and were now equipped to provide Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in healthcare facilities across Yobe State.
“These trainers are ready to support vulnerable communities, particularly those affected by recent flooding.
“We also plan to integrate psychosocial support into community health clinics to improve overall emergency response,” Mustapha said.
He added that similar training programmes would be extended to other zones in the state through continued collaboration with SEMA and the Ministry of Environment.
