**6.1 Activities already implemented**

A number of humanitarian agencies had implemented a number of activities including songs, funny stories, code of living, and promotion of children's rights, literacy campaigns and sports. Those activities, although useful, did not always meet the real needs of the children or led to the relief of required mental health problems of affected children. But those children were preys to anguish, psychic disorders and aggressiveness. Adults were not equipped to receive and accept such brutal and violent emotions.

### **6.2 Medical prescriptions**

Psychotropic drugs prescription was dominated by antidepressants (amitryptillin). Generally speaking, these drugs were prescribed in small dose. Drugs prescribed appear in table 3 below.


Table 3. Psychotropic medications prescribed in the management of mental health problems

The range of drugs used was voluntarily restricted in order to promote their rational use by the field agents who have no medical background. Dosage has been at their minimum to facilitate handling and limit the risk of side effects e.g. chlorpromazin, which is usually prescribed in dosages of 200 to 300 or 400 mg per day, was given in with maximum dosages ranging from 150 -200 mg in our sample . This permitted, in most cases, drug taking without difficulty.

The molecules recommended in international literature in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and co-morbid states, such as paroxetin and hydroxyzin were not used, especially because of their high price and the difficulties involved in their availability in rural areas.

Once the first positive effects of the treatment were reported, the organizers discontinued further use of the drugs. Reports indicated that some parents even took the drugs with the view to enjoying their sedative effects. Thus, with one chlorpromazine tablet in the evening, they slept well and they could the next day return to their farms without effort.

We asked the organizers to take back the drugs to avoid drug misuse, and to administer the drugs to the children.

The NGO had a package of drugs available to field workers based on drug prescriptions. Living in the community, they distributed a sufficient quantity every week and ensured good treatment compliance.
