Africa CDC and Partners Advance Mental Health Leadership in Eastern Africa with New Reforms
Mental Health Leadership Programme (MHLP) for the Eastern Africa region, a programme that brought together mental health professionals, policymakers, CSOs, media, and individuals with lived experience to strengthen leadership and advance mental health reform across the continent at Kenya Medical Training College Nairobi Campus.
By Aoma Keziah,
Africa CDC Centres for Disease Control and Prevention together with Wellcome, Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), and several other regional partners, have highlight progress in the ongoing Mental Health Leadership Programme (MHLP) for Eastern Africa, in Nairobi.
Bringing together a wide range of participants, mental health professionals, government representatives, civil society groups, and people with lived experience, The focus was building stronger leadership and driving meaningful reform in mental health systems across the region.
“In setting up an integrated or strengthening integrated health system for the prevention and control of high-boding diseases, Non-communicable diseases, injuries, and mental health are part of the high-boding diseases, what we are doing today is ensuring that Africa CDC, is working closely with member states to support our member states in the process of achieving that integrated health system for high-boding diseases. We are now working towards having efficiency and increase efficiency in the way and effectiveness in the way we support,and the way health is delivered,” stated Dr. Mohammed Abdulaziz Head, Division of Disease Control and Prevention Africa CDC.
He further added that they are also very thoughtful in funding, and this kind of training they do for mental health leaders and advocates totally align with what they are doing in Africa CDC
“We are doing all these to maximize efficiency and effectiveness in the interventions to ensure we have a health system that’s responsive to the need of the continent,” Abdulaziz continued to say.
As Mental health remains a growing concern in many African countries, where services are limited and awareness often low, collaboration between countries and disciplines, the MHLP aims to fill leadership gaps and support practical, community-based solutions.
“Africa CDC has developed a continental strategy that is aiming at supporting countries to address those high burden diseases, and the Mental Health Leadership Program is one of the flagship programs that is currently helping us to develop the leaders that will help to understand and use public health to address mental health challenges,” remarked Dr. Adelard Kakunte, Senior Technical Officer NCDS, injuries and Mental Health.
Dr. Mazyanga Lucy Mazaba ,Regional Director Africa CDC, Eastern African Region, also emphasized the importance of this training saying that for a long time mental health has been dealt with as a small issue.
“We have recognized that mental health for a long time now has been dealt with like a small issue, as separate issue but mental health is health and it’s part of health and the Africa CDC mandated to secure public health on the continent,” she explained.
The initiative, now in its latest phase, has already begun shaping how mental health is approached in health systems planning and education across several Eastern African nations.
Africa CDC and its partners say they hope to build momentum not just in Eastern Africa but across the continent, ensuring mental health is treated as a critical part of overall public health.
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The Mt Kenya Times 