‘Barefoot counselors’ reach out to Yolanda survivors

As some survivors of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) still not quite over the trauma left by the killer cyclone, a group of barefoot psychologists has been deployed to reach out to the victims, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said.

An initial 36 “barefoot counselors” trained by the Order of St. Camillus will provide basic trauma counseling and health care in Samar, the CBCP said on its news site Saturday.

“After the typhoon, we gave psychological debriefing to survivors but it’s not the cure because the effects of trauma is lingering. Also, there have not been enough psychologists there but the local people themselves can do something so we started this program on barefoot counselors. They are non-professionals but they can be trained on how to deal with trauma,” said Rome-based Father Aries Miranda, head of the Humanitarian Mission Office of the Camillian religious order.

The CBCP noted Camillians, also known as the Servants of the Sick, are involved in the development of health care and health facilities in developing countries.

It said the 36 will go door-to-door and help people suffering from anxiety and depression.

Miranda pointed out the 36 will be alternatives to psychologists, to work in disaster-stricken areas.

He also said they will link people and help them coordinate with concerned agencies in times of calamities.

“We’re building community support so that in the event of a disaster, these trained people already have the capability on disaster risk management,” he said.

Yolanda left more than 6,300 dead after devastating the Visayas in November 2013. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News