NYAMAGABE/HUYE – As the nation prepares for the 16th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, district authorities together with development partners have agreed to set up a fund which will cater for people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

In an interview with The New Times on Monday Immaculée Mukarwego, the district vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs said that the fund is in line with this years’ theme which focuses on handling trauma that has  been seen to be on the rise.

Mukarwego said that in the past, many Genocide survivors especially children from child headed families who developed PTSD during and after the commemoration period were left unattended to in hospitals. She said once set up the fund will help in assisting such groups of people.

"The decision to establish the fund has received overwhelming support from our development partners. We hope this will help in addressing the challenges faced by trauma victims especially during the mourning period,” she said.

The District has established a team of close to 300 trauma counsellors who will be operating in different Cells of the District. A supervision team has also been set up to monitor commemoration activities in all cells while a coordination team will be based at sector level.

The district has lined up a number of activities during the commemoration which will include public discussions at cell level.

"We chose to hold public discussions at cell level for easy coordination and supervision. This will also make it possible for us to find speakers during these discussions,” the district vice Mayor said.

Meanwhile all is set for the start of the commemoration week at the National University of Rwanda. The university community lost over 400 students and staff  during the 1994 Genocide.

According to Darius Kankiriho, the Head of Human Resource and Administration at the University, commemoration activities will include public discussions in the University’s main auditorium.

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