LAHORE: A psychological trauma centre has been set up at King Edward Medical University to resolve the psychiatric issues of the affected people of natural disasters, calamities and terrorism.

Psychiatrists will impart training to the officials of police, Rescue-1122, teachers, doctors, nurses and would also prepare training modules for media persons so that awareness could be created among masses on this important issue.

This was shared in a meeting of the provincial steering committee constituted by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for psycho-social trauma on Friday.

Additional Chief Secretary Syed Mubassar Raza, adviser to chief minister on health Khwaja Salman Rafique also attended the meeting besides Head of the Psychiatry Department of KEMU Prof Aftab Asif.

Prof Asif informed the meeting that first Psychological Trauma Centre at KEMU had started training programme and the first phase of training would start from Saturday (today) for police and Rescue-1122 officials.

Prof. Aftab urged that national media should also adopt responsible strategy for the coverage of terrorism incidents to save the children and elders from the psychological trauma. He said the Provincial Psycho-Trauma Centre would also prepare training modules for media persons.

The meeting was informed that another two such centres would be established in Multan and Rawalpindi and the services of psychiatrists of medical colleges and other educational institutions would be acquired.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2015

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