MUSA FALI – MENTAL HEALTH PSYCHO-SOCIAL SUPPORT MHPSS

Musa Fali is a 12-year-old child from Kamuya village Biu Local Government Area of Borno state. He is a 3^rd child from the family of seven and lives with his 80-year-old grandmother alongside his siblings at IDP Camp Biu. He is a disable child whose condition was as a result of polio and use wheel bicycle. Musa lost his father during the insurgency and is separated from the mother, he has no idea of what education or school is, what he knows and was doing is to assist his elder brother to rear cattle’s.

Musa was lucky to have been spared by the Boko Haram insurgents, they came to their village (KAMUYA) late in the night when the people were deeply asleep and they woke the people up and burnt houses and properties. They slaughtered the people I know and finally came to our house and slaughtered my father in my presence (cried…). they said, I will not be killed because of my condition (deformity). While they were running for safety with other survivors in the bush he saw dead bodies and flying bullets everywhere. These horrible, unpleasant and life threatening experience landed Musa to serious mental health distress.

Musa said life was difficult coming down to IDP Camp with the grandmother and siblings where he decided to be going out daily to beg to feed his old grandmother and siblings, “we eat once and sometimes nothing a day “Musa Said”.

Challenge-(what is the issue)

Musa presented the following complaints thus;

• He was isolated
• Stigmatised by other children in the camp
• Overthinking
• Flash backs
• Intrusive thoughts
• He was always afraid
• He complains nightmares

“Ina ganinsu a mafarki da dare” that anger has cause him pains in the chest.

What we did (Intervention):

Musa went through mental health and psychosocial screening and diagnostic tool, administered, scored and interpreted by the clinical psychologist and was diagnosed PTSD.

Treatment plan was design thus;

• Individual counselling
• Group counselling
• Psychoeducation
• CBT
• CFS

Musa went through sessions of psychotherapy and counselling at the Child Help Desk and was part of every activity at CFS where he mingles and played with children that have taken his mind off his experience at Kamuya village.

The care giver was supported with N20,000 Naira to start up business, however as a result of the vulnerability of the caregiver, Musa’s elder brother start up sugar cane business to support the family while Musa was enrolled into TLC presently in TLC2a.

Outcome- immediate response

Musa has bounce back to great resiliency with amazing feedbacks;

Musa who was isolated and stigmatised is now nick name as Chairman by children and camp members. His social skills were improved and became so popular and most liked by other children in the camp.

Overthinking, fears, flash back, intrusive thoughts and nightmares presented during assessment have all gone because of his patience, commitment, consistency and repeatability during counselling sessions

BIU IDP Camp chairman attest to Musa resilience. Musa school performance has improved significantly. He is in TLC 2a and can write his name, alphabet A-Z and can count numbers, he was provided with learning materials to help in school.

He no longer goes out to beg, through the livelihood grants used in the sugarcane business Musa’s family now eat three times a day, he said.

TESTIMONIAL (QUOTES FROM THE BENEFICIARY):

Life is now very interesting because I did not just hear about education but I am undergoing it Musa said, “Ina jin dadin makaranta da wasa da yara”. In his word he said I thank you IDS and Street-child for giving me peace of mind “na gode”.