Our Donors
Contacts
Tajikistan Mine Action CentreUnited Nations Development Programme
121 S. Ayni Str., 734013
Dushanbe, Tajikistan,
E-mail: mineaction.tajikistan@undp.org
URL: www.mineaction.tj
Tel/Fax: (992 37) 227-0947, 221-6687
Ёрии ҷисмонӣ ва реинтегратсияи иҷтимоӣ
The provision of psychological support for landmine survivors and persons with disabilities in Tajikistan is still underdeveloped. Since 2005 TMAC, together with its partners, annually conducts summer camps for a group of landmine survivors. In total, 185 survivors have already participated in summer camps, which provide an environment for psychological support and relaxation. The summer camp initiative provides landmine victims with an opportunity to come together with other landmine victims to share experiences, receive counseling, and medical and rehabilitation treatment as well as engage in social events such as sports, cultural activities, and arts. However, it is recognized that the summer camp initiative is not sufficient to address all specific issues that landmine victims face.
One of the strongest assets in the country is the Faculty of Psychology at the National University of Tajikistan (NUT). This faculty is engaged not only in training but also scientific research that is specific to Tajikistan. Moreover, there are a growing number of NGO projects and programs in the country for all types of psychological impairments and an increasing number of resources in Tajik and Russian languages that are available for independent study, training, and formal education.
Among the achievements of the ТМАС VA Programme is the publication of a “Guideline on Psycho-social Support for Landmine Survivors” and “Borderline Mental Disorders and Quality of Life of Landmine Survivors” for psychologists, social workers, University students and others involved in the rehabilitation of mine survivors. One exciting evolution in Tajikistan is the development of a Network of Mental Health NGO. Spearheaded by the NGO “Global Initiatives on Psychiatry” the aim is to develop a coordination and discussion platform for NGOs engaged in psycho-social initiatives. This platform also has regional and international connections, thereby nurturing information and sharing experience.
In cooperation with Afghanistan Landmine Survivors Organization (ALSO), TMAC organized knowledge exchange seminars on peer-support for a team of six Tajik participants in 2011. These victims, who have been affected by trauma, are willing to be peer-to-peer counselors and develop a phone HOTLINE. This HOTLINE will allow peer-to-peer counselors to carry a mobile phone that anyone who needs support can contact. In this way remote rural areas can be reached and support will be provided.
In the framework of Regional Cooperation with Afghanistan in 2010, a team of six Tajik experts participated in the First inter-country Psycho-social Rehabilitation Conference “Reaching Unreached through Psycho-social Rehabilitation” in Kabul. In 2011, the second Regional Psychosocial Rehabilitation Conference was organized by MLSPP of RT in cooperation with TMAC and the Afghanistan Disability Support Programme (ADSP) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. A working committee was formed, consisting of experts, professionals and key people from the relevant ministries of three countries to work on the implementation of the conference recommendations, report to the next conference and work together for resource mobilization.
Social reintegration can be very difficult and cause stress and disturbances in family structures. Women have a far greater difficulty reintegrating as their “value” in the family can be impacted because they become unmarriageable and/or unable to become mothers or fathers and face difficulty in supporting domestic activities. For men, their ability to reintegrate into society is to a large extent related to age and social standing in the community and depends on their ability to continue to engage in livelihood activities.
