Congolese experts train Guinea psychologists on holistic care for sexual violence survivors

The Mukwege Foundation coordinates the knowledge transfer on holistic care for survivors of sexual violence. Recently, psychologists from Guinea received a training from their Congolese colleagues at Panzi.

Four psychologists travelled from Conakry to participate to a training at Panzi Hospital, in DRC. They took part to an intensive one-week training on the holistic model of care for victims of sexual violence developed by Panzi, and more specifically on the different types of therapies offered and their clinical rational.

The training was followed by one month of observation at Panzi, where the Guinean psychologists had the opportunity to shadow experienced Panzi clinicians to confront the theoretical knowledge they learnt to the field reality.

Knowledge transfer project between DRC and Guinea on holistic care

This training is part of a larger knowledge transfer project between DRC and Guinea-Conakry, which is coordinated by the Mukwege Foundation and aimed at building local capacities in the care for sexual violence survivors.

Dr Chaikou Ahmed Tidiane Balde, head of the delegation, said: “The trip to Panzi was an exceptional experience that allowed us to deepen our knowledge of the psychological care of survivors of sexual violence. It enabled us to live the holistic model developed at Panzi, which we hope to implement at home in Guinea.”

Read more about the project of the Mukwege Foundation to expand the holistic model.