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World Mental Health celebration shows that improvement of mental health status of Afghans are top priority of Ministry of Public Health |
Enhancement of Afghan’s mental health and treatment of mental health disorders are the priorities of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) of Afghanistan. In spite of having limited budget and human recourse, some important steps have been taken in the area of mental health within the MoPH such as the establishment of a Mental Health unit, the development of a Mental Health strategy for the integration of MH in Primary Health Care (PHC), the revision of MH part of Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS), the revision of MH part of Essential Package of Hospital Services (EPHS), the finalization of National MH strategy, the standard treatment protocol, the establishment of a National MH taskforce and the establishment of 16 psycho-social centers (2 in Herat and 14 in Kabul) said Dr S.M.A. Fatimie minister of the pubic health. He also added: In near future MoPH will ensure that at least one trained health professional will be working in every health facility and will ensure that every patient will have the opportunity to be screened and get proper counseling and treatment for the mental health and psychosocial problems.
Dr Fatimie pointed out the deep connection between the insurgency and mental health problems and said I would like to attract the attention of international community into the growing problem of mental health. This problem is not only threatening the health of people in the entire world, but also jeopardizes peace, security and stability of the globe. If sufficient attention is not going to be paid to this emerging problem, insurgency activities will be increased tremendously and many others will carry out suicide attacks, usually forgetting civilians. Crime, intolerance and violence will reach to their high peak. He continued My humble request to World Health Organization leadership is to further strengthen partnership among the member states in order to respond properly in a collective manner to this prevailing problem. At this critical time there is a pressing need for collective prompt action of WHO member states to make every possible efforts to initiate health activities as solution for this problem that not only improve health but also promote, peace, harmony, understanding, friendship, respect, trust, confidence, solidarity, cooperation, coordination, interaction, growth, participation, effective partnership, good planning, teamwork, commitment, feeling of belonging, lasting development, durable stability, and security. Factors such as uncontrolled urbanization, un-empowerment, poverty, ignorance, injustice, inequity, and inequality are negatively affecting health promotion, thus require appropriate solution.
According to WHO data in 2002, globally 154 million people suffered from depression, 25 million from schizophrenia, 91 million were affected by alcohol use disorders and 15 million by drug use disorders. About 877,000 people die by suicide every year. One in four patients visiting a health service has at least one mental, neurological or behavioral disorder but most of these disorders are neither diagnosed nor treated. Most middle and low-income countries devote less than 1% of their health expenditure to mental health. Consequently mental health policies, legislation, community care facilities, and treatment for people with mental illnesses are not given the priority they deserve.
In Afghanistan a study conducted in 2000 by the Physicians for Human Rights compared the mental health status of women livings in a Taliban-controlled area versus those living in a non-Taliban controlled area. Depression was almost two times more prevalent among women living in the Taliban controlled area than among women living in a non-Taliban controlled area.
A nationwide survey conducted in the 2002, found high levels of depressive symptoms (male: 59.1 %, female: 73.4%), anxiety symptoms (male 59.3%, female 83.5%) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (male 32.1 %, female 48,3%). Respondents with physical disabilities had an even higher chance of developing psychopathology. A recent study among widows in Kabul also reported depression symptoms among 78.6% of these women (CARE 2004).
Ministry of Public Health requests all Afghans to seek mental health care whenever they see any symptoms of mental health problems. Mental health disorders are easy to cure and treat. The drugs for the treatment of mental disorders are inexpensive and easy to access. If mental health disorders are not treated, they could be seriously disabling. In this regard the MoPH have provided and printed brochures and posters for the public Outreach.
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H.E Dr. Suraya Dalil
MoPH Acting Minister |
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