The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health sets up a working group to coordinate crisis assistance in Kauhajoki
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has decided to set up a civil servants working group on account of the shooting incident in Kauhajoki to coordinate the need for medical care and psychosocial assistance for victims and relatives.
The Ministry has investigated the need for particular national measures because of the shooting incident. The City of Kauhajoki is responsible for providing care to the injured persons and support to their relatives together with the Central Hospital of Seinäjoki. In addition, the Central Hospital of Vaasa and the University Central Hospital of Tampere have sent doctors and nurses specialised in intensive care to the place of the incident. If national assistance will be needed, the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa and the Vantaa Crisis Centre will send a necessary number of social and health care professionals to Kauhajoki.
The social services office of Kauhajoki has started giving psychosocial support on account of the shooting incident. Psychosocial support is provided to the students and teachers who where involved and to relatives.
Minister of Health and Social Services Paula Risikko finds the event most deplorable. She is going to travel to Kauhajoki in the afternoon.
“I wish to express my deepest condolences and support to all those concerned. The families of the victims, and the students and staff of the educational institution need crisis assistance, and access to it must be secured for all those in need of it,” stresses Minister Risikko.
Related to the disaster in Kauhajoki, a telephone helpline has been opened for giving information to relatives of the victims, tel. 06-415 5533.
For further information contact:
Jouko Söder, director for social and medical emergency preparedness and response at the Ministry, tel. (09) 160 74363, 050 3812467