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service is effective for those who would benefit from individual sessions, it would also be
important to address the victims of the political violence on a group and/or community level. At a
group level, gender issues should be considered, i.e. perhaps groups of women within their
communities could be given support separate from the men. Focussing on the families within the
communities would also be important. Another extension of the core principle of cultural
appropriateness would be attention to the social nature of the trauma. Thus we anticipate the
need for an established and well funded community outreach programme that would provide a
community based clinical service in the context of ongoing research into the social nature of the
trauma and its effects on family/community/neighbourhood. One important aspect of this
community programme would be liaison with community traditional leaders, both civic and
spiritual, in order to help identify those resources within community domains that might be
mobilised in the aid of healing. We also anticipate very close working relationships with those
organisations whose aims are more focused on sustainable livelihoods and economic
empowerment.
REFERENCE LIST
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Kinzie J et al. 1984. Post traumatic stress disorder among survivors of Cambodian concentration
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Patel V et al. 1997. Common mental disorders in primary care in Harare: associations and risk
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Patel V et al. 1998. Outcome of common mental disorders in Harare. British Journal of
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Reeler A, Mbape P et al. 2001. The prevalence of disorders due to organised violence and
torture in Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe. Torture, 11, 4-9.
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Weingarten K. 2000. Witnessing, wonder and hope. Family Process 39: 389-402.
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survivors.
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