Cameroon/Mental health in the Far North of Cameroon
Action contre la Faim, through its Confluences project financed by the Agence Française de Développement, is building the capacity of teams in the Tokombéré health district to use the mhGAP protocol.
The training and supervision of health workers in the mhGAP protocol is designed to improve patient access to mental health services. In this way, a number of health workers from health facilities are trained in the management and referral of simple and common cases of mental health problems diagnosed in their health facilities.
A nurse gives us some feedback
My name is BB and I'm a nurse in a health center. I'd like to share my experience with young patient Y, an encounter that illustrates the importance of taking mental health into account in the care process.
Y is a 34-year-old married nursing mother living in the village of Sava with her husband and their five children. She came to a health facility in July, accompanied by one of her children, because of various health problems. During the consultation, she mentions symptoms such as general fatigue, palpitations, sleep disorders and a feeling of avoidance.
A review of her history revealed that Y had consulted the health center a week earlier for similar problems. This led me to further explore the causes of his symptoms, focusing also on the psychological aspect. After assuring her that our exchange would remain confidential and establishing a climate of trust, Y began to share the origins of her problems.
She recounts: " It was when I witnessed an accident on my way back from Mora, where a young man died on the spot, that I started to feel these different problems. Several days later, it keeps coming back, as if it happened yesterday. I can't sleep the way I want to, I often wake up suddenly at night, and during the day I feel pain all over my body, which prevents me from working. I'm even afraid to get on the bike. "
After listening actively to Y, I explain that his symptoms are normal reactions for someone who has experienced traumatic shock, and that they should subside with time. I offered him psychosocial support to help reduce his symptoms and improve his mental health.
With her agreement, we set up a fortnightly follow-up. In our first sessions, we focused on sleep hygiene, establishing a regular routine and avoiding excitants like coffee, alcohol and soft drinks, which can disrupt sleep and promote insomnia. At the end of each session, I teach Y a relaxation exercise based on cardiac coherence, to make it easier for him to fall asleep.
By the second session, Y expresses his satisfaction and the improvement in his condition, underlining: " It's been better since the day I was here. I don't wake up as suddenly as I used to. I'm hopeful that things will change and I'll feel much better. "We continue to work on strengthening her social support, encouraging her to resume the family and household chores that used to bring her pride, as well as her community activities.
At our third meeting, which marks the end of her follow-up, Y expresses her satisfaction with the progress she has made. She says: " It's a great opportunity for me to come here and talk about my problems. I've learned a lot, and it will help me in my life. I thank you very much for your help, and may God bless you even more. "
This positive feedback underlines the significant impact of appropriate support and a psychosocial approach on the rehabilitation of people who have undergone traumatic experiences. Y's commitment to improving her health is an inspiring example of resilience and courage.
The Confluences project in Cameroon
The far north of Cameroon is a region faced with multiple adversities, whether natural, human or health-related, such as drought, floods and conflict. These phenomena have serious consequences, including famine, population displacement and an increase in disease. Faced with these pressing challenges, a rapid response is essential, and it is against this backdrop that the Confluences project was launched. This multi-year partnership agreement (CPP) project is being implemented by Action contre la Faim, with financial support from Agence Française de Développement (AFD), in the Tokombéré health district.
As part of this project, various mental health activities are being deployed in several health units, notably in Seradoumda, Warba, Mayo-Ouldemé, Tokombéré 2, Mokio and Makalingai.
It was during a consultation in the Seradoumda health facility that Nurse BB met Y, a young woman from the village of Sava. This encounter illustrates the Confluences project's commitment to meeting the mental health needs of the region's vulnerable populations, offering essential support in a context of crisis.
Source: www.actioncontrelafaim.org
