Tag: mental health

Health Ministry To Train District Mental Health Officers

Healthtimes

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care is working to improve mental health services in its institutions venturing into training of mental health in districts. By Kuda Pembere According to its mental health strategic plan 2019 to 2023, Government sought to train provincial mental health officers, a feat they achieved last year. In an interview with Health Ministry’s deputy director for mental health services Dr Sacrifice Chirisa said they capacitated mental health officers manning provincial health institutions last year. Government as of last year has provincial mental health officers in…

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AMARI’S Mental Health Documentary Premieres In Zim

Healthtimes

THE African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI) on Wednesday premiered a documentary dubbed Articulate: Filling The Gap in Harare focusing on mental health issues affecting Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ethiopia. By Kudakwashe Pembere With subsequent premieres expected to be done in the other African countries, the documentary will first be aired on internet platforms as well as public service broadcasting corporations. The documentary features issues such as postpartum depression experienced by mothers, the uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis(PrEP) among sex workers in Zimbabwe, a bipolar disorder patient, as well as…

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Study Endorses Psychosocial Therapy In Low and Middle Income Countries

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AS Zimbabwe’s Health and Child Care Ministry intends to adopt the Friendship Bench community mental health initiative, a research published on Lancet Psychiatry has shown that psychosocial therapy interventions is effective in bridging the mental health gap in low income and middle income countries. By Kudakwashe Pembere In Zimbabwe, there is a globally renowned intervention named the Friendship Bench where community health workers such as the Mbuya Utsanana and even the youth are used as psychotherapists. The Health Ministry in its 2019-2023 Mental Health Strategic Plan in the adoption of…

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Zim Still Experiencing Psychiatrists Shortage

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THE shortage of psychiatrists in Zimbabwe poses a threat to the country’s health sector as mental health practitioners are overwhelmed by the growing numbers of mental health cases around the country, a mental health practitioner has said. By Kudakwashe Pembere In an interview with HealthTimes after presenting on Mental health practice as a career for the future at the Zimbabwe Medical Students Association Annual General Meeting on Saturday,  Dr Fungi Mazhandu said the country three private psychiatrists. “Of the 17 psychiatrists we have in Zimbabwe, just three are in private…

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Botswana To Host Africa Mental Health Symposium

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A  two day mental health conference which is set among other things to deliberate and proffer solutions to the growing mental health burden in Africa, will be held in Botswana, Gaborone from 29 to 30 October, 2018. By Michael Gwarisa In an interview with HealthTimes, Botswana Network for Mental Health official, Charity Kiki Kennedy said the conference has registered tremendous response from potential participants and renowned speakers around the continent and called more partners and players to come board. “The conference will be hosted in Botswana at Blue Tree in…

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Mental Health Reels From Underfunding- MSF

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LACK of funding from government and general lack of interest in mental health issues by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in favor of other ailments such as HIV, Cancers and Tuberculosis (TB) makes it difficult to curb the souring cases of mental illness in Zimbabwe, MSF head of Mission Ms Abi Kebra Bilaye has said. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing stakeholders during an MSF Presentation of their activities in Zimbabwe, Ms Bilaye said there was massive resentment of mental health by the donor community and this has resulted in poor funding for such…

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MSF Establishes Effective Community Mental Health Model

Healthtimes

HealthTimes Correspondent  MEDICAL humanitarian organisation, Medecins Sans Frontieres/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have established an effective community mental health model of care in 12 polyclinics and one satellite clinic in Harare to enhance the provision of mental health care in the community. The community mental health care model is a pilot programme that was started by MSF in April 2016 in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), the City of Harare health department and the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Department of Psychiatry. It involves…

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Zimplats Introduces Mental Health Initiative

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By Michael Gwarisa LEADING Platinum producer ZimPlats has successfully integrated mental health management as part of its wellness programme aimed at managing the effects of stress and a host of other psychosocial ills among its employees. Briefing a National Social Security Authority (NSSA) CEO’s breakfast meeting, Zimplats Chief Executive Mr Alex  Mhembere said they had come with mental health initiative for their employees and the company would invest more towards the initiative. “Safety performance has got a direct impact on operational and financial performance of an organisation. Studies in USA (National…

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Rampant post-natal depression among Zim women

Healthtimes

By Kudakwashe Pembere About 30percent of Zimbabwean women undergoing the 6 week post-natal checkups suffer from post-natal depression, a mental health expert said on Friday. Postpartum depression (PPD), also called postnatal depression, is a type of mood disorder associated with childbirth which can affect both sexes. Symptoms may include extreme sadness, low energy, anxiety, changes in sleeping or eating patterns, crying episodes, and irritability. Speaking on an SFM show, Dr Dixon Chibanda said this condition is common among Zimbabwean mothers. “Post-natal depression is highly prevalent in Zimbabwe. Studies that we…

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