Bendigo Community Health Services’ Culturally Sensitive Counselling team is here for local people seeking mental health support following last month’s shock closure of hospitals within refugee camps on the Thai/Burma border.
Hospitals and medical centres in nine camps closed without notice after the US Government suspended foreign aid around the world.
The effected camps house more than 100,000 Karen refugees, including more than 100 people bound for Bendigo, and many more loved ones of the approximately 3500 former Karen refugees who live in Bendigo.
“People here are in a state of shock, grief and worry about this,” a BCHS counsellor said.
“Several are trying not to watch the news and social media because they cannot keep absorbing the collective impact due to their worries for vulnerable family members.”
Humanitarian Settlement Services Senior Case Manager Sue Ghalayini said BCHS’ refugee health nurse and doctor have been briefed to expect more need and complexity once new arrivals from the camps make it to Bendigo this year.
“It will affect our future clients,” Sue said.
“It affects families in Bendigo, our workforce in Bendigo, and all the settlement providers around Australia.”
Case Manager and former Karen refugee Nay Chee said every single Karen person in Bendigo is talking about this.
“Every single Karen person is worried about it,” he said.
“We are all feeling, what if it’s my family that needs help? People in the camps can easily die from preventable and curable diseases.
“Another worry we have is for people who are on medication, will they be able to get their medication?
“This whole situation is devastating.”
International media sites have reported the US Government later announced it would at least temporarily keep funding humanitarian programs that provide life-saving medicine and medical services, but it is not yet known if services for Karen refugees are included.
For now, the camp hospitals remain closed.
People of refugee background who need support during this difficult time can simply come into the BCHS Central Hargreaves Street site and ask to speak with counselling intake. Or, they can fill out our Culturally Sensitive Counselling intake form, which will be sent directly to our team.
ABOVE: Case Managers Nay Chee and Sue are concerned for the welfare of Karen people within refugee camps and in Bendigo.
By Lauren Mitchell
