adminMichell Zvanyanya, Chronicle Reporter
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care seeks to re-establish a community based mental health programme to promote access to rehabilitation services, Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary Dr Agnes Mahomva has said.
She said the strategy is in line with the Ministry’s National Strategic Plan of strengthening psychiatric services in the country.
In a speech read on her behalf by the Chief Director of Preventive Services in the Ministry, Dr Gibson Mhlanga, during the Ingutsheni Central Hospital Psychiatric nurse graduation ceremony at the institution in Bulawayo yesterday, Dr Mahomva said people suffering from mental illness can be successfully treated in the comfort of their own homes as opposed to institutional care.
“One of the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s focuses in its National Strategic Plan is to strengthen and co-ordinate Psychiatric Services. This includes the need to re-establish Community Based Mental Health Services with the aim of reducing the custodial concept of psychiatric care,” she said.
“The community based mental health care programme seeks to offer clients a community-based environment for effectively dealing with mental illness. Children and the elderly best respond to care in familiar environments and this community-based care is best for them. The Friendship Bench currently at Health metropolitan is one of the mental health programmes and the Ministry seeks to increase the services.”
Dr Mahomva said the Ministry will partner with other stakeholders in implementing the strategy to ensure accessible and effective rehabilitative services.
She said the Ministry will review the Mental Health Act of 1996 and the Mental Health policy of 2005 to ensure comprehensive management of persons with mental illness in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“You are aware that in 2015 all United Nations member States adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDG 3 strives for healthy living outcomes and promotes well-being for all and we therefore want to see better outcomes in Mental Health,” said Dr Mahomva.
The annual graduation saw 49 nurses graduating as Registered Mental Nurses and they recorded a 100 percent pass rate. Ingutsheni Central Hospital chief executive officer, Mr Ernest Manyawu, said they take pride in being the only institution that trains Registered Mental Health Nurses in Zimbabwe and in Southern Africa.
“The nurses graduating today are a unique product to Zimbabwe. We are the only institution that trains Registered Mental Health Nurses in the region. I am aware that the Sadc region is also interested in our training programme and the Ministry of Health is engaging sister Ministries in the region for the training. We are ready to receive them,” said Mr Manyawu.
He commended the Ministry of Health and Child Care for ensuring access to improved hospital equipment despite the prevailing economic situation, saying it has promoted stability in the institution. — @michellzvanyanyan2
Online Reporter