60 frontline service responders from Kompiam-Ambum, Laiagam, and Porgera Districts in Enga Province completed training on Community-based Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Stress Management, including how to best deal with crisis situations and the people affected.

The training helped responders to identify conflict-related trauma among men, women, and children in these three districts where communities continue to face the consequences of election-related violence that erupted prior to the National General Elections 2023, and helps them to direct individuals or families to the proper referral pathways that exist in the province.

The United Nations Population Fund facilitated this training with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and our local government partner in the province, the Enga Provincial Administration, through its Community Development Division.

The Director of the Community Development Division, Mrs. Dorothy Kukum, who participated in the training, stressed the significance of psychological first aid in bringing healing and corrective thinking to improve behavior in these communities.

“Our communities are suffering from the impacts of violence, tribal war, and, most recently, election-related violence,” said Mrs Kukum. “This training will bring healing to the minds of individuals and assist them in managing their trauma.”

Director Kukum further stated how the training deeply resonated with most of the community mobilisers.

“Almost all these frontline service responders have experienced tribal warfare and have suffered from election-related violence,” she said. “Through this training, they were able to identify how important PFA is for them and how to manage stress.”

“Moreover, the recognition of the availability of services and referral pathways in the area and province is beneficial to these community mobilisers,” Mrs. Kukum added.

The Community Development Division now plans to engage these 60 community mobilisers in various community-based training exercises to enhance their training on PFA and stress management in their communities.

“I thank UNFPA and partners for this training and for amplifying the importance of PFA and stress management and the huge role it plays for both our community mobilisers and the survivors of violence,” said Mrs Kukum. “This is an area that my division will be focusing more on following the training.”

Media Contact: Sharon Tanda tanda@unfpa.org