e-learning for mental health delivery takes shape

Rejoice Makoni Herald Correspondent

The Government has embarked on e- learning training programmes  to facilitate treatment of mental  health patients  in their homes surrounded by family and friends.

This was revealed at a workshop on quality rights held at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals convened by the World Health Organisation yesterday.

Dr Debra Machando, the World Health Organisation mental health technical officer said the transformation of the health services was backed by institutional centres in improving the welfare of people vulnerable to mental illness in support to the Government’s efforts.

“World Health Organisation is rolling out mental health interventions such as a program called Problem solving therapy that builds capacity of health care workers to be able to identify and treat patients at facility level through the Ministry of Health and Child Care. At the moment the program is being rolled out in Hurungwe.

“The goal of the training is to raise awareness and to help people have an appreciation of how they can treat people with psycho social disabilities to reduce stigma and discrimination,” she said.

Harare province mental health officer Betty Zephenia said the Ministry of Health and Child Care is happy that many people have been trained under the quality rights e- training program with the aim to expand and improve mental health service delivery.

She urged inclusion of those with mental health problems and psycho social disabilities in decision making looking at a right based quality of services. Taurai Kadzviti the vice chairperson of National Association of Persons with Psychological Diseases [NAPPD]  said quality rights are a key in making sure that people understand mental health especially the rights of people with disabilities.

”I urge all people with visible and invisible disabilities to undertake the training as it is reach in information, legislation and rights. Following the president’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind, NAPPD as an umbrella organization is working with various organization to cascade down the training across the country,” said the vice chairperson.