Publication: Indigenous Healing of War-Affected Children in Africa
Date
1999-07
ISSN
Published
1999-07
Author(s)
Green, Edward C.
Honwana, Alcinda
Abstract
The note identifies how an informal
partnership between indigenous healers - with their
ritualistic therapies - and donor-assisted programs - with
emphasis on the family, and social adjustment - can provide
a model of how indigenous, and Western scientific approaches
can be pursued to provide war-torn children a maximum
benefit. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
have been exhibited in children during, and following war
conflicts, and, while various organizations have developed
types of psycho-social programs to assist war-affected
children - namely through Western therapeutic techniques
originally developed to treat American veterans of the
Vietnam war - these remain at a very preliminary stage of
development. The focus moreover, ignores local beliefs, and
all its forms of ancestral spiritual forces intended to heal
the affliction, and undermines as well, communal involvement
in the healing process. Through two case studies - Angola
and Mozambique - the note shows the tremendous knowledge of
communities, in how to heal the "social wounds" in
war-afflicted children, and adults. Evidence of this healing
process is based on understanding mind afflictions, shared
by spiritual interventions. What was though manifested, was
the need in helping to find missing family members, in
establishing schools, in creating job opportunities, to
promote stable social environments. Thus organizations, and
nongovernmental organizations should focus in local
understanding, working to promote cultural environments,
where children gain a sense of security.
Citation
“Green, Edward C.; Honwana, Alcinda. 1999. Indigenous Healing of War-Affected Children in Africa. Indigenous Knowledge (IK) Notes; No. 10. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/99817a8a-10fc-5461-9ba4-2f8bd1ece207 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”