Expert Seeks Psychological First Aid For Freed Chibok Girls

Going by the commitment to give the released Chibok girls the best, a Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Olufemi Olugbile has recommended that they should be kept in a safe and comfortable place away from the public eye for some time.

Olugbile, who was the immediate past Chief Medical director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), said it has become imperative for the government to provide the needs of the released girls which should be individually assessed.

It will be recalled that out of the over 200 girls that were abducted by the Boko Haram Sect two years ago 21 were released recently to the Federal Government.

According to Olugbile, who also was the former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health in Lagos State, psychological first aid should be applied to the released girls.

“They should be allowed to interact with their parents/guardians, who themselves should receive counselling to manage their expectations and reactions to the changes that may have taken place in the girls.

“Those in need of specialised or longer term attention should be identified and assisted.

“Comprehensive medical examination should identify their medical needs.”

He noted that psycho-social rehabilitation should ease them back into their natural environment while long-term support should be given to help them and re-integrate them into the society.

Since the release of the girls, however, fears have been raised over how the girls would cope with the stigma of their abduction and long stay with the violent militant group. It would be recalled that some of the Chibok girls that had been released before faced serious stigma to the extent that one of them announced her interest to return to the Boko Haram sect in order to be with her ‘husband’.

However, Olugbile said if well managed, the girls would be well integrated back to their society.