GCMHP Holds Technical Meeting with MoH Mental Health Dep. to Assess Needs

Gaza Community Mental Health Programme has held on Monday, 15 February, 2021 a technical meeting with representatives from the mental health department of the Ministry of Health as part of the cooperation between the two sides to plan for ‘Unblocking the Future’ training programs project, which GCMHP provides in collaboration with  Physicians for Human Rights.

The representatives included Dr Yehia Khader, Director General of the Mental Health Department; Dr Mohammad Abu Shaweesh; Head of Psychosocial Support Programmes; DrOsama Emad, Head of Research Department; Mr Hisham Al-Mudalal, Director of Department of Development; and Mr Saed Al-Kahlout, Head of Training Department, who were received by GCMHP Director General, Dr Yaser Abu Jamei, and Director of External Relations, Mr Qusai Abu Odei.

The project which targets mental health workers at GCMHP and the Ministry of Health, is funded by the European Union, and will be unleashed in the near future as all arrangements are put in place.  

The meeting was started by an introduction presented by Dr Abu Jamei, who explained the pivots the trainings will focus on and how this programme will contribute to building their capacity and be practically reflected on their service provision.

He also went through a group of gaps and training needs which GCMHP has concluded through the continuous monitoring and evaluation of mental health professionals based on its strategic plan.

On his part, Dr Khader, said than you to GCMHP for convening the meeting, and therefore opening the space for them to discuss the challenges, needs and gaps from their own professional experience, reiterating that such cooperation comes in the framework of continuing the mutual capacity building efforts.

During the meeting, the attendees agreed on a set of mutual training needs which have been placed on top of the priority list as they directly improve the interventions made by mental health workers in the Gaza Strip.