The national commemoration week for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is around the corner and its a time during which trauma cases increase countrywide.

According to information from the National Commission for the fight against Genocide (CNLG), there are currently only 2,000 trauma counsellors in the whole country, a number that is small given the trauma cases that are registered especially during the commemoration period.

During a recent meeting for stakeholders, it was revealed that at least 45,000 counsellors are needed to duly take care of the cases that will arise in the commemoration week. This would be hard to achieve given the remaining time.

The public should be sensitized on how to detect and handle trauma cases.  With the few numbers of counsellors, stakeholders should consider recruiting volunteers from various communities and give them basic training.  Such a strategy would help narrow the gap.

Another equally important factor that should not be overlooked this time round, is the colour adorned by the workers of the Red Cross, who are always on memorial grounds and other gatherings, ready to hand first aid to those who get traumatised.

Concerns have been raised over the fact that these volunteers put on red, which only makes the situation worse for trauma victims, as this brings back memories of blood and horror.

Much as it is the red colour that identifies Red Cross workers, the  world over, an exception should be made in this case to offer better support.

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