OF THE 388 children in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS), none showed post-traumatic signs after the Magnitude 7.4 and Magnitude 6.9 quakes last Oct. 10 that struck the region.
During the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday, Rachel M. Guerrero, DSWD XI Disaster Response and Management Division social welfare officer, reported that there were no children who needed case referrals for further psychosocial intervention.
Child-Friendly Spaces are safe spaces within the community or any setting where children can access free and structured play, recreation, leisure, and learning activities.
In the case of a post-earthquake in the region, these CFS are in the evacuation centers and tent cities of affected areas.
Of the 388 children aged 5-16 years old who are catered in CFS, 157 are from Davao de Oro, and 231 are from Davao Oriental, where 42 are from the epicenter municipality of Manay, and 189 are in Tarragona.
“So far, according to social workers who conducted the activities, the children showed no signs of being hysterical,” Guerrero said.
She added that some children would cry after an activity where they were told to draw how their house looked before and after the earthquake.
“Crying is normal, but after that, they go back as usual and proceed with the activity,” Guerrero added.
The activities in the CFS are part of the process to identify if the children have further needs, being in the early rehabilitation and recovery after the onset of the disaster.
Guerrero explained that if a child shows hysterical signs and cannot be managed by the social workers, they will be referred to the Department of Health for professional help.
For children outside the evacuation centers, the Department of Education and local government social services also offer psychosocial services.
“We are extending our doors to others, such as NGOs that are trained in psychosocial services, academes, NGOs for the affected, they can communicate with DSWD or the local social services,” the official stressed.
Photo courtesy of DSWD
