20th November 2007, Lusaka -- The National Mental Health Conference was officially opened yesterday at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre by the Minister of Health, Honourable Brian Chituwo. The conference is organized under the auspices of the Mental Health Association of Zambia and the Ministry of Health under the theme “No Health Without Mental Health: Time for Action to Meet the Challenges”. The overall aim of the conference is to enhance the mental health services in Zambia by seeking strategies for prevention of mental and emotional disorders, the proper treatment and care for all those with such disorders, and to promote stronger partnerships. The conference themes include:-Basic needs and basic rights for mental health users; mental health and HIV/AIDS, Advocacy; prevention of mental illness and mental health promotion, promotion of mental health among women and the role of NGOs.

In his opening address, the Minister of Health Dr. Brian Chituwo bemoaned the high levels of stigma and discrimination which people with mental disorders suffer in their daily lives. He emphasised that the government of Zambia was committed to mental health reform and that the mental health policy and the National Mental Health Strategic plan for 2007-2011 would be implemented in such a  way as to strengthen integration of mental health in primary health care, community services, public education, human resources and provision of HIV/AIDS services. In a statement read on behalf of the WHO Representative, Dr. Peter Songolo called upon the government to accelerate mental health reform by implementing the existing mental health policy and updating the mental health legislation for protection of human rights of persons with mental disorders. He also emphasised the need to ensure availability of psychotropic drugs and to develop mental health information systems. The conference attracted more than 200 participants from Zambia and other countries which include Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, United States of America, and the United Kingdom. In attendance at the conference are Ministry of health provincial and district health directors, mental health officers, psychiatrists, clinical officers, nurses, representatives from hospitals and health training institutions. Other organizations represented include the Mental Health Association of Zambia, Mental Health User’s Network of Zambia (MHZA), government ministries, human rights organisations, Zambia Federation of Employers, UN Agencies, other partners in health including USAID and CDC, NGOs and other community-based mental health user’s organisations. The conference has received financial support from the Ministry of Health, partners in health and UN agencies including UNICEF and the World Health Organization.

For More information contact :
Nora Mweemba, Health Information and Promotion Officer.
GPN Number 37609, Mobile 0977873976,
WHO Country Office,
UN ANNEX BUILDING
Plot 4609, Corner of Andrew Mwenya and Beit Roads, Rhodes Park
P.O. Box 32346, Lusaka, Zambia.
E-mail: mweemban [at] zm.afro.who.int (mweemban[at]zm[dot]afro[dot]who[dot]int) 
Tel No:00-260-1-255 398 / 255 336 / 255 322
Fax: 00-260-1-252863