The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the European Union (EU), has provided training to 240 clinicians, including medical doctors, nurses, midwives, and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), on basic mental healthcare in the three North-Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe.
Dr. Kumshida Balami, the W.H.O Interim Emergency Manager for Northeast Health Emergencies Response, officially inaugurated the training in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State. Dr. Balami pledged to enhance the capacity of healthcare workers in the Northeastern states and provide them with essential support to enhance their overall health status.
“This particular training is in support of the ministries of health across the 3 states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. WHO is training about 240 Clinicians which include Medical Doctors, Nurses, Midwives and Community Health Extension Workers to be able to increase access to mental healthcare at the primary healthcare level.
“As you can see the participants are so excited to contribute to their communities in terms of providing basic and counselling communication on stress disorder and being able to care for basic health issues like an eclipse, seizure disorder, alcohol use and drug abuse including techniques in handling stigma in the community,” she said.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr Babagana Kundi Machina represented by the Director, Human Resource Management, Mohammed Kyari Usman said the training organised by the WHO, will no doubt strengthen the capacity of the healthcare workers in the state, especially at the primary healthcare level.
The training which is also to discuss extensively mental health and psycho-social support as one of the pillars of supporting the lingering cerebrospinal meningitis in the state, is aimed at building the capacity of the healthcare workers to provide basic psycho-social support for the families of affected victims.
In Yobe state, about 78 participants drawn across the 17 local government areas attended the workshop.
One of the participants revealed that the training will enhance their capacities to address the challenges of mental health disorders in their communities.
The other two states, Adamawa and Borno concurrently hold the same training in their various state capitals.