World Mental Health Day 2018: The adverse effect of technologies on Mental Health

Dr Musango highlighting the fact that ‘the harmful use of alcohol and illicit drugs among adolescents contributes to risky behaviours such as violence, unsafe sex and dangerous driving’
The World Mental Health Day was marked on 10 October 2018 at the Brown Sequard Mental Health Care Centre in Mauritius in the presence of Dr Hon Anwar Husnoo, Minister of Health and Quality of Life, Dr Myriam Timol, Acting Director General Public Health Services, Dr Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius, Dr Nawoor, Regional Director of Jeetoo Hospital and Dr Ameenah Soreefan, Consultant in Charge (Psychiatry).  The quality of the cultural programme presented by the patients and staff of the Mental Health Care Centre as well as the exhibition cum sale of creative handmade crafts of the patients from the Occupational Therapy Department captured the attention and interest of all those present. Dr Hon. A. Husnoo, in his address, explained that ‘mental health is a state of wellbeing that we need to have in order to operate in our daily life, it enable us to do things, work and contribute to the society’.   He pointed out that there is no health in the absence of mental health.  The Health Minister added that people should be changed their attitudes towards people suffering from mental health problems.  He added that ‘very often, mental health problems are associated with changes in society, changes in work conditions, discrimination towards women, social exclusion, unhealthy lifestyle, violence, diseases, drug or alcohol  addiction and unemployment.’  

Government urged to prioritise investment in Mental Health

Dr Kaluwa responding to questions from a section of the media

Dr Owen Laws Kaluwa, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, has called on the Government to develop and strengthen evidence-based programmes to address the mental health needs of young people.
He urged the Government to put in place deliberate interventions, with the support of national policy-makers and programme managers, to prioritise and advocate for funding to finance the mental needs of the country, with special emphasis on adolescents and young people.

Mental health slowly devouring the heart of society

Sedated patient at Karu General Hospital –Behavioural Medicine Unit

Abuja, 9 October, 2018 - “I sold everything I had in Nigeria in preparation from my green card. When I was denied it, I fell into a depression and decided to turn to alcohol and drugs to ease off my disappointment,” says Daniel Oyewale as Nigeria prepares to commemorate World Mental Health Day. This year, the theme is “Young people and mental health in a changing world”, to draw attention to the importance of mental health among the youth. 

WHO Representative, Dr Olu, Olushayo Oluseun, presents his letter of credentials to the Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation, South Sudan

Dr Olu presenting his letter of credentials to Honorable Deng Dau Deng Malek. Photo: WHO

Juba, 5 October 2018 –Dr Olu, Olushayo Oluseun, the newly appointed World Health Organization (WHO) Representative for South Sudan who presented his letter of credentials yesterday, 4 October 2018 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Presenting his credentials, Dr Olu says, “with Ebola virus disease on our doorstep, I would like to join the Minister of Health in leading a multisectoral approach to ensure that the country is well prepared”.

WHO works with government agencies to respond to floods across Nigeria

WHO, UNCDA, NEMA & other partners supporting the Emergency Coordination Centre for Flood victims in Niger State Government

Abuja, 3 October 2018 - World Health Organization (WHO) is closely working with the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in States affected by floods to support the health response to the emergency. Based on its technical expertise and its field presence in all affected states, WHO is assisting Federal and state authorities with the assessment of the health situation and needs. 

East African Countries intensify collaboration and Preparedness as Ebola Outbreak Continues in DRC

Delegates from the five countries- Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania & Uganda. Development partners are also present at the meeting

Entebbe, 3rd October 2018:- The on-going Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has led to intensified cross-border collaboration among East African countries on disease surveillance and emergency preparedness.

Consequently, the East African Integrated Disease Surveillance Network (EAIDSNet) has convened a three-day cross-border meeting in Entebbe, Uganda, to enhance disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and response in East Africa including DRC.

Validation of the findings of the ‘National Assessment of the Health Systems for better Non-Communicable Disease outcomes’

Dr Hon. A. Husnoo, Minister of Health and Quality of Life stating that ‘NCDs are major health concern of my ministry and by reducing NCD morbidity and mortality, we can reduce unnecessary suffering of the Mauritian population.’
Dr Anwar Husnoo, the Minister of Health and Quality of Life, opened the validation workshop held on 02 October 2018 at Le Meridien Hotel, Mauritius to validate the findings of the National Assessment of the Health System for better non-communicable disease outcomes.  Eminent personalities, namely Her Excellency, Ms Marjanna Sall, the Ambassador of European Union, Mrs Christine  Umutoni, United Nation Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Dr Laurent Musango, the WHO Representative in Mauritius, Mr  Prakash Nowbuth, Senior Chief Executive, Dr Maryam Timol, the acting Director General Health Services, Mrs Mudaliar, Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry and were present during the opening ceremony.  The national assessment of the health system, a joint initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO), European Union and the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, which started in September 2017, has now reached the stage of completion.  The assessment results will be used in national processes for elaborating the Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) and  the Integrated NCD Action Plan for Mauritius.