Fifty health and social workers, community leaders and human rights practitioners from Maryland and Grand Kru counties who are being trained by Isis-WICCE on the management of trauma in post conflict Liberia have raised issues on the well being of women. The training which has been going on since 21st May 2009 at the Diocese of Cape Palmas Pastoral Centre in Harper town and will end on 27th May 2007 represents the first phase of a short term medical intervention that Isis-WICCE is carrying out in Maryland and Grand Kru counties to address sexual and psychological consequences of war on women and girls who were abused during the armed conflict in Liberia.

The participants from the two counties are being trained in counselling and medical management of war trauma problems, sexual and reproductive health, gender based violence, management of the psychological health consequences of survivors, human rights and professional standards in health care. The training aims at building the capacity of the participants in the management and identification of physical and mental health related complications in post conflict settings.

During the training, participants raised and discussed major gynecological problems in the communities that have had adverse affects on the well being of women and girls since the war which include fistulae, urinary incontinence, infertility, STDs and HIV/AIDS infections, teenage pregnancies and vaginal tears. The participants also discussed sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) that is still prevalent in the Liberia society and encouraged the setting up of peer groups for survivors of SGBV including developing positive strategies to fight domestic violence.

Participants emphasized the sensitization of communities as a key element in ensuring their participation in fighting gender and sexual violence in society.Participants also reviewed the importance of practicing professional standards in health care especially on putting in place conducive environments for patient assessments, treatment and counselling. In group discussions, participants noted accountability, participation and non discriminatory approaches as major elements of responsible human rights approach to health. They also raised the issue of enabling communities to participate and take more control of their lives and have a say in matters that affect them.

They reviewed the importance of enabling communities to demand greater accountability and be part of decision making processes that are always put in place to intervene in their lives. In handling the health needs of war survivors, emphasis was put on counselling as a therapeutic function to give psychosocial support to women and girl survivors. It was however emphasised that psychosocial counsellors need to have good communication skills to ensure that they relate well with the survivors. It was noted that that successful counselling builds on the clients’ strengths that helps them maximise their resilience. Participants also raised the issue of handling mental trauma of children that were affected by war who still needed rehabilitation, security, care and psychosocial support.

The medical intervention that will also include screening of and performing of surgical operations on the beneficiaries will provide an opportunity for survivors of sexual violence and other forms of torture to access expert emergency health services with the aim of improving the conditions, services and opportunities for women and girl survivors following situations of armed conflict. Treating these outstanding health problems will gradually give survivors of conflict enhanced capacity to participate in post conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation as well as improve on their conditions of living.