MSF avails wellness hub for refugees

BY STEVE EPHRAEM

A MEDICAL humanitarian organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders), which has been operating in Zimbabwe since 2000, has availed a wellness hub named The Baobab at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge.

The organisation’s Mental Health Activity Manager, Janet Mukurumbira, claims that mental challenges have a huge impact on the development of any society, and people should ensure that they have a role to play in ensuring that the mental health and well-being of refugees is taken care of.

Mukurumbira went further to announce that the baobab tree is a symbol of resilience.

“The baobab is an indigenous tree that grows tall, with roots that are strong and big, as well as its strength of growing bigger in dry conditions. It speaks of strength, life and resilience. This resembles the resilience that refugees and asylum seekers have,” she said.

Health

The interior of The Baobab wellness hub at Tongogara has two chat rooms, an office and an open space area with ablution facilities, where games such as chess, scrabble, puzzles and psychosocial sessions for individuals or groups shall be held.

The outside has a pitch where sporting activities such as basketball and volleyball can be played.

Through the planned activities at the hub, refugees and asylum seekers are expected to improve their well-being and be able to gain strength to become self-reliant through income generation projects, rather than wait for food handouts.