August 24, 2024, (MOMBASA, Kenya): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the East, Central and southern Africa Health Community (ECSA_HC) in collaboration with the government of Sao Tome and Principe has convened Experts Consultations on Mental Health research under East, Central and southern Africa Health Community Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Multiphase Programmatic Approach, in Mombasa, Kenya.
The aim of the three days, Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Multiphase Programmatic Approach project is to strengthen health system resilience and multispectral preparedness and response to health emergencies in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Speaking on behalf of H.E Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of IGAD, Dr. Fatuma Adan, IGAD Head of mission to the Republic of Kenya, Urged the participants to focus on the situational analysis on mental health as well as highlight on gaps in research, policies, and programs, in identifying the country and regional priorities for mental health research to be taken care of by East, Central and southern Africa Health Community Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Multiphase Programmatic Approach.
Dr. Fatuma also thanks the World Bank for supporting this innovative initiative.
In his remarks, Dr. Jones Kaponda Masiye, MPH MBBS DDT Manager, Non – Communicable Disease, Food Security and Nutrition, East, Central and southern Africa Health Community disclosed that Proper management of mental illnesses can prevent loss of life and reduce costs of chronic psychosocial disability, therefore, ECSA-HC and IGAD acknowledge the critical importance of mental health for everyone in the region.
“We have decided to incorporate it as an emergency priority in the Multiphase Programmatic Approach project”, the Manager noted.
Mr. Leonel Rosario Jesus Carvalhoo, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health, Sao Tome Principe in his part explained that IGAD and ECSA-HC are our implementing partners and have played a key role in facilitating and supporting our initiatives and projects, and their collaborations have been important to the success of this project.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Mercy Karanja, Deputy Director of Medical Services of the Government of Kenya, as host country, stated that mental health problems have been on the rise globally, posing a significant public health challenge that calls all to action.
“Our various countries represented here have faced their own specific health emergencies that have required the integration of mental health and psychosocial support in the response.” Dr. Mercy mentioned.
The Technical Consultations brought together experts from Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sao Tome & Principe.
Budget for the consultation workshop financed by World Bank.
The expert’s consultation workshop from 22nd to 24th August2024 resulted in understanding of the situational analysis and current focus of countries in programs, policies and research on mental health, as well as, research opportunities and priorities to inform protocol for joint regional research proposals concepts in mental health to be implemented in the project countries.
Subsequently, the expert Consultations concluded successfully, in discussing on the way forward how to coordinate the research agenda on Mental Health and the way forward on enhancing participation.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the East, Central and southern Africa Health Community (ECSA HC) serve as the regional entities implementing the regional components of the project, complementing country level interventions.
The Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa is a regional program implemented in Multiphase Programmatic Approach.
