Strengthening Psychosocial Support and Emergency Response in Senegal: Lessons from a Tragic Traffic Accident.

Authors

  • Ibra Diagne 1. Health Emergency Operations Center ,Dakar, Senegal.
  • Khadim Seck 2. Department of Psychiatry, Kaolack Regional Health Department, Senegal.
  • Véronique Petit 3. UMR 196 CEPED University of Paris, France.
  • Ndèye Dialé Ndiaye-Ndongo 4. National University Hospital of Fann, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal.
  • Aida Sylla 4. National University Hospital of Fann, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/hra.v2i2.5235

Keywords:

Mobile psychosocial intervention and support team, accident, psychological trauma, Senegal

Abstract

ABSTRACT
On January 8, 2023, Senegal experienced a tragic traffic accident that claimed the lives of 42 people and left approximately 100 injured. During such events, the victims, their families, the first responders to arrive on the scene and the frontline personnel must benefit from medical and psychological care. Promptly, the Emergency Health Operations Center (EOC) acted, activating the Kaolack mobile psycho-social intervention and Support Team in addition to deploying mental health professionals in Kaffrine. On-site in Kaffrine, a medical-psychological emergency cell was established. This cell efficiently organized immediate and post-immediate care, offering individual and group counseling sessions tailored to the specific needs of each person affected. Approximately sixty direct or indirect victims received psychological assistance. Beyond the challenges inherent in managing such events and considering their increasing occurrence in our country, a vital lesson emerged-the necessity of formalizing Mobile Intervention and Psychosocial Support Teams in every region for the effective management of medical-psychological emergencies.
RÉSUMÉ
Le 8 janvier 2023, le Sénégal a connu un tragique accident de la circulation qui a coûté la vie à 42 personnes et fait une centaine de blessés. Lors de tels événements, les victimes, leurs familles, les premiers intervenants arrivés sur les lieux et le personnel de première ligne doivent bénéficier d'une prise en charge médicale et psychologique. Le Centre des opérations d'urgence sanitaire (COUS) a réagi rapidement en activant l'équipe mobile d'intervention psychosociale et de soutien de Kaolack et en déployant des professionnels de la santé mentale à Kaffrine. Sur place à Kaffrine, une cellule d'urgence médico-psychologique a été mise en place. Cette cellule a organisé efficacement les soins immédiats et post-immédiats, offrant des séances de conseil individuelles et collectives adaptées aux besoins spécifiques de chaque personne affectée. Une soixantaine de victimes directes ou indirectes ont bénéficié d'une assistance psychologique. Au-delà des défis inhérents à la gestion de tels événements et compte tenu de leur fréquence croissante dans notre pays, un enseignement essentiel se dégage : la nécessité de formaliser des équipes mobiles d'intervention et de soutien psychosocial dans chaque région pour une gestion efficace des urgences médico-psychologiques.

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Published

24-01-2024

How to Cite

Ibra Diagne, Khadim Seck, Véronique Petit, Ndèye Dialé Ndiaye-Ndongo, & Aida Sylla. (2024). Strengthening Psychosocial Support and Emergency Response in Senegal: Lessons from a Tragic Traffic Accident. HEALTH RESEARCH IN AFRICA, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.5281/hra.v2i2.5235

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2024): Health Research in Africa

Section

Medicine and Society

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