M0H- Gaza: Workshop on Strengthening Mental Health Psychological Services (MHPSS).
Today, Monday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the World Bank, held a workshop entitled Strengthening mental health Psychological Services (MHPSS) in Gaza Strip within the Early Childhood development project.
The Director General of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Health, Dr Marwan Abu Saada indicated in his opening speech that the project includes the essential equipment, as well as medicines for treating psychological trauma and furnishing spaces for children within the health facilities.
Dr Abu Saada pointed out that the Ministry of Health has been working on this project since 2019, appreciating the World Bank’s efforts in supporting vital tasks for the health sector.
Meanwhile, the Director General of Mental Health, Dr Jamil Suleiman commented that the project includes training 300 personnel, health professionals and practitioners from the Ministry of Health, the Ministries of Education and Social Development, UNRWA and community institutions working in this field.
Dr Suleiman stressed the importance of this course specialized in children’s mental health, as it is a part of the first cooperation with the World Bank within the Early Childhood Development project.
Indicating that the programme would provide medicines, psychological tests, two pediatric EEG devices, play therapy rooms, and child-friendly rooms in all mental health facilities and children’s hospitals in particular.
Dr Suleiman stated that the training, which begins today, Monday, will last for 90 days for 11 training groups with various categories of psychiatrists, general practitioners, family doctors, paediatricians, psychiatric nursing, maternity and childhood nursing, school health, counsellors, and psychologists and social workers.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Early Childhood Promotion Program at the World Bank, Dr Fadi Ismail, presented the project as a trial to build the best capabilities for the most significant number of health cadres in the Ministry of Health and partner health institutions, pointing out that the project aims to invest in improving the children’s lives starting from pregnancy until the age of five years.