Thriving Child Tigray

In collaboration with the Organization for Social Services, Health and Development (OSSHD) and NALA Foundation and OSSHD, the Global Health Program launched an initiative to address critical needs in Tigray, Ethiopia. This project aims to assess Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) needs and explore how essential factors such as health and hygiene, food and nutrition, and education impact mental health outcomes across schools in four woredas.

Phase I of the project, carried out between August to October 2024, involves a multi-faceted approach aimed at better understanding these interconnections, with the ultimate goal of identifying targeted interventions that address both mental health and the broader factors influencing it. The initial step included a two-day training session focusing on Psychological First Aid for Children and Vicarious Trauma/Self-care, followed by a three-day training for approximately 20 interviewers. The newly trained interviewers will then conduct detailed assessments with children, teachers, and caregivers across schools in the selected woredas. The data collection process uses a range of tools, including interviews and focus groups, all translated into Tigrinya and English to ensure cultural appropriateness and accuracy.

Looking ahead to Phase II, the project will shift towards implementing targeted interventions based on the findings from Phase I. This phase will prioritize enhancements to the school environment, such as providing new chairs, blackboards, and dignity rooms for girls, as well as establishing kitchen and food preparation areas. A comprehensive mental health support package will also be developed and introduced. Secondary interventions will include the introduction of a school feeding program, mental health training, improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, and health promotion activities. Ongoing efforts will focus on sustaining feeding programs, establishing school gardens, continuing mental health programming, and ensuring the regular delivery of menstrual hygiene supplies.

Through this initiative, the Global Health Program aims to gain a more nuanced understanding of how various factors influence mental health and to implement effective solutions that improve both mental well-being and essential living conditions for children in Tigray.

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