Nyamagabe: Trauma cases record low in 2013 commemoration week

While it is common for some 1994 Tutsi genocide survivors to get traumatized during commemoration, the committee members said that trauma cases have reduced this year compared to previous years. 

This was revealed during the meeting of the committee that had organized commemoration on district level and sector executive secretaries on April 15^th 2013 in Nyamagabe district.

Jean Damascène Nkurunziza, in charge of culture and sports in Nyamagabe district revealed that while 78 people were traumatized during 2012 genocide commemoration, 62 people including 17 Congolese in Kigeme camp were affected during this year’s commemoration.

All traumatized survivors got help from health workers and even though some were taken to the hospital and health centres, they all recovered.

Of the three survivors still traumatized but being given special care, include two are effected every year and one who gets traumatized every time she sees the house where her family was killed.

The mayor for social affairs in Nyamagabe district, Emile Byiringiro confirms that emotional support is helping in reducing trauma cases during commemoration time.

Trauma cases are reducing because we are near genocide survivors to help them improve their daily life,” Byiringiro denotes.

The mayor asked that whoever is affected during this commemoration time be given special care so that next year such problems do not happen at all.