Online Reporter
Talent Gore
THIRTY-FIVE frontline health professionals from across the region have completed a two-week mental health short course in Harare aimed at strengthening advocacy and improving response systems as mental health cases soar.
The training was supported by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the University of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Health and Child Care as regional partners scale up efforts to address growing mental health challenges across the continent.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention head of Division for NCDs, Injuries and Mental Health, Dr Mohammed Abdulaziz, urged the region to prioritise investment in mental health services.
He said stigma remained one of the biggest barriers to addressing mental health issues, often preventing people from seeking help.
“Mental health must be treated as a public health priority. Countries need to strengthen systems and ensure services are accessible to communities,” he said.
“Africa remains severely under-resourced in mental health services. The Africa CDC Mental Health Leadership Programme aims to plug this gap by training professionals from diverse fields to strengthen the continent’s response to mental health challenges.”
Dr Abdulaziz stresses the need for increased national-level investment.
“Mental health has been underfunded for too long. We need to shift the narrative, investing in mental health is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Without proper funding, our health systems will continue to struggle to provide adequate care,” he warns.
One of the participants from Tanzania, Dr Linda Paul Athman, who completed the programme, said the training equipped them with skills to identify mental health conditions early and advocate for improved care.
“The course has strengthened our capacity to recognise mental health challenges and support communities more effectively,” said one delegate.
Course coordinator from the University of Zimbabwe, Bazondlile Dube, said mental health issues should not be stigmatised.
“We are losing our youth to substance abuse. I encourage all participants to use their skills to develop other leaders in their communities,” she said.
“Mental health funding is limited, but through collective action, we can engage policymakers and mobilise resources to make a real impact.”
