GRIEF COUNSELLING AS PART OF MEASLES OUTREACH

Day 2 of the SVSG Measles Prevention and Helping Hand Outreach highlighted the need for grief counselling support, for the parents and siblings of the children whose lives have been claimed by the measles epidemic.
 
At Vaiusu, the SVSG Outreach found the parents of the 3 year old measles victim still in shock; and except for the fact that a new grave is erected infront of the family home, it is obvious that the parents are going progressing through the denial stage. It just breaks the heart; and to think that this is only Day 2 of the Outreach, yet, we are growing weary from crying. This is normal as we are only human.
 
The Vaiusu Outreach covered four families comprised of 25 children and 13 adults, with 5 of these adults being SVSG’s village representatives for Vaiusu.  
 
Aimed at raising awareness on prevention and cleanliness, the provision of counseling support to the grieving families and the basic food supplies, we are glad that we have taken the initiative.  Because for the families that we have visited so far, they needed the reassurance that as family, we will stand together to see this catastrophe through.
 
Thank you once again to our donors thus far, the SVSG Melbourne, Fexco Samoa, Dress a Girl Around the World, and the latest donor, Lend a Hand of Seattle Washington courtesy of the Taito Family Ministry.  Your support enabled us to reach close to 100 of our people since the beginning of the SVSG Measles Prevention and Helping Hand Outreach.
 
Last but not the least, the SVSG President acknowledges the compassionate shown by our SVSG village representatives namely Lini Toomata, Aitilotilo Henry & Laumata Crawley and Fala’i & Telesia Lupeni as we walked from families to families during the Outreach program.