Acting Director General of Health Dr. Patrick Amoth has today said that public health and humanitarian emergencies have had tremendous impact on the mental health of populations worldwide and in the east African region more so.
Speaking during a workshop organised by Africa Centre for Disease Control, Amoth said that a public health model is critical to address the short and long term mental health as well as psychosocial consequences of Covid 19 including other emergencies.
“In our region, this situation is worsened by the disruption of little services on offer for mental, neurological and substance use disorders which was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he noted.
He added that this model requires an integrated approach whereby an individual is thoroughly treated in all aspects that play a role on their wellbeing.
The Health DG pointed out that in order to ensure mental health and psychosocial wellness especially during public health emergencies, there is need to give due regard to among other issues involving communities before during and after the emergency.
The organised workshop in collaboration with the Regional Coordinating Center for the Eastern Africa Region unites participants from Africa CDC and mental health focal persons from the 14 member states as well as WHO, IGAD, EAC, UNICEF, UNHCR among others.
