Treating trauma – Our dedication in figures

Ten years of medica mondiale

S.H. was born in 1960 and comes from the vicinity of Zavodovici. During the war in Bosnia, she experienced multiple gang rapes. In 1993, she, along with her two children, spent several months at Medica Zenica. At this time, S. suffered from intense post-traumatic complaints: nightmares, constant agitation, sleep disturbances, mood swings, and physical pain. She was given psychotherapeutic support, but was also given psychiatric treatment with drugs.

After she returned to her home village, she had renewed bouts of post-traumatic symptoms. She constantly had the feeling that her male work colleagues knew about what she had experienced. Thus, she spent another six months at Medica Zenica. Since then, she has felt more stable. Since having resumed work, she regularly comes to our counselling centre for psychotherapy. Actually, she does not feel able to work. She believes that Medica Zenica is the only place where she can talk about her complaints.

Not an isolated case!

An example: The statistical data from the founding of Medica Zenica in 1993 to date indicate that the premises and the counselling centres are still being continuously frequented by women. Numbers are rising, and there has been no reduction in the frequency of counselling sessions, although the war has long ended.

At present (2003), there are 113 staff members working in our foreign projects, 10 of them men (drivers). In addition, we have about 40 volunteers.

Medica Zenica's achievements between 1993 and 2002 ...

35.376	patients who received gynaecological examinations and counselling
4.020	women and children who received psychological support and counselling
636 Frauen 319 Kinder	who found shelter in the project housing in Zenica and Visoko
445	courses in continued education offered

medica mondiale Kosovo's achievements between 1999 and 2002 ...

7.288	patients who had gynaecological examinations
762	clients from 24 cities and villages who were provided with long-term psychological and social care
64	clients who received legal counselling
23	trials on behalf of clients

medica mondiale Tirana's achievements in 2002 ...

988	women who received gynaecological treatment
109	women who received social and psychological counselling and continuous support
140	women who received vocational training (as cooks, seamstresses and computer operators)
450	women contacted through local joint activities

medica mondiale's achievements in Afghanistan in the years 2001 and 2002 ...

20	places in the women` s shelter “Purple Nest” for women and girls
39	women recruited for continued education on the subject of treating trauma
10	women sent to Afghanistan through the project “Doctorane Omid”
8	doctors accepted for training treating trauma with the intention of working in Afghanistan for a few weeks