GEESI Development and Humanitarian Initiative

World Mental Health Day takes place every year on October 10 to spotlight mental health around the world, raise awareness of mental health issues and encourage efforts to support those experiencing mental health issues. Safe, healthy working environments can act as a protective factor for mental health. Unhealthy conditions including stigma, discrimination, and exposure to risks like harassment and other poor working conditions, can pose significant risks, affecting mental health, overall quality of life and consequently participation or productivity at work. With 60% of the global population in work, urgent action is needed to ensure work prevents risks to mental health and protects and supports mental health at work. Refugee mental health and psychosocial wellbeing is an integral part of GESSI’s approach to protection, public health and education. Forced displacement due to armed conflict, persecution or natural disasters put significant psychological stress on individuals, families and communities. Refugees not only experience atrocities prior to their flight, their living conditions in host countries can impose more stress and hardship. Refugees with preexisting mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and psychosis, often face greater challenges when trying to navigate asylum systems. By investing efforts and resources in evidence-based approaches and interventions at work, we can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive at work and in life. So GESSI takes action today for a healthier future.

GEESI Development and Humanitarian Initiative

The Devastating Reality of Malnutrition Among Refugees Malnutrition is a silent killer, disproportionately affecting refugee populations worldwide. Conflict, displacement, and poverty converge to create a perfect storm of nutritional insecurity, leaving millions vulnerable to its devastating consequences. Its causes are; Food insecurity and scarcity, Limited access to healthcare and nutrition services, Poor sanitation and hygiene, Conflict and displacement, Lack of nutrition education. GEESI Development and Humanitarian Initiative through educative verbalizes included, refugees at the settlement and host community members. We continued in conducting nutritional assessments with the collaboration of healthcare professionals and volunteers. After the educative talk, we distributed food materials to identified individuals at risk of malnutrition and with specific nutritional deficiencies both in the refugee settlements and also in the host communities. The distribution covered; malnourished children, Breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women.

GEESI Development and Humanitarian Initiative

The MHM clubs activities in schools, refugees settlement and host community had to include children from 8-10 because of their hormonal changes that are occurring in their body. Now children body system does not wait till they get to a certain age, it happens early so it is very important that they get the necessary information about their personal hygiene and how to maintain a good menstrual practices. With the resumption of schools we had to distribute some dignitary kits for the MHM clubs in schools for emergency purpose.

GEESI Development and Humanitarian Initiative

Gender Based Violence(GBV) seminars were organized to raise awareness of GBV prevention and Gender equality within refugee settlements and host communities, distribution of information materials such as leaflets and posters on GBV prevention and available support services were also taught and emphasis on the need to strengthen referral pathways and mechanisms for survivors, provide psychosocial support and counseling services to survivors, ensuring access to health care services, including sexual and reproductive health services for survivors were made so as to give the survivors a sense of belonging and always let them know they are not alone and is never their fault. In the field, we raised awareness through educative talks on Sexual Harassment, causes, effects, prevention and mitigating strategies in refugee settlements and host communities. We created awareness to the participants of the available support services and emphasis on the need to strengthen referral pathways and mechanisms for survivors, provide psycho-social support and counseling services to survivors, ensuring access to health care services.

GEESI Development and Humanitarian Initiative

After the seminar on nutrition, a nutrition education campaign was launched through various platforms, which include refugee settlement and their host community and health clinics. This campaign aimed to disseminate accurate and evidence based information about nutrition to a wider audience. Nutritional assessments were conducted in collaboration with healthcare professional also to identity individuals at risk of malnutrition or specific nutritional deficiencies, the activities conducted in the field of nutrition proved to be successful in promoting awareness about healthy eating habits, providing nutrition education, and addressing nutritional issues in the community. we continued to educate participants in our various focused groups on topics such as understanding food labels, healthy meal planning, and portion control. The creation of awareness through educative talks included refugees at the settlement and host community members. Nutritional assessments were still conducted in collaboration with healthcare professionals and volunteers also to identity individuals at risk of malnutrition or specific nutritional deficiencies. After the educative talk, we distributed food materials to forcibly displaced persons that are in the refugee settlements and also to members of the host communities. The distribution covered; Malnourished children, Breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women.

GEESI Development and Humanitarian Initiative

The world refugee day was celebrated at Ukende refugee settlement in Ogoja Cross river Nigeria, where different activities was carried out to celebrate our courage, resilience and contribution to the refugees and host communities alike, activities ranging from drama and song presentation,dance performance by children from different schools, cooking competition by men from different livelihood training and lots more. Our capacity building for skill acquisition displayed their products such as shoe and bags made from both Ankara and leather materials, wigs made by our participants were also on display, gown, different schools uniforms were also displays, tablet soap made by the participant was also exhibited and they got the opportunity to market their product. Everything ended well because after displaying everything they have learnt they had a great sales of their own made products.

GEESI Development and Humanitarian Initiative

To commemorate the solidarity walk with the refugees and host communities on the 19th of June 2024, a friendly match was organized for the under 14 female football team and under 14 male football team. though for the male team the game ended at 1-0 while the female team had a goal less match. With the look of more children wanting to participate in the match organized, the need to organize more matches as such will be made.