The National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (Nirm) is levelling the ground for establishment of Pakistan’s first Psychological Trauma Management Centre (PTMC) to handle survivors of disasters and the rising incidence of trauma resulting from mental stress.
This was stated by Nirm Director Dr. Jehanzeb Khan Aurakzai while addressing the participants of a consultative meeting of stakeholders who had assembled here on Friday to scrutinise the concept paper governing the establishment of such a facility. More than 30 professionals from government and non-government organisations and partners, including the World Health Organisation, attended the meeting.
Having been apprised of the concept of PTMC, the participants were divided into three groups which brainstormed the challenges hampering the establishment of PTMC, coordination of the centre with the primary healthcare system, and various capacity issues.
The groups prepared recommendations and gave ideas favouring the establishment of PTMC. A committee was also formed for implementation and follow-up, with Nirm consultant psychologist Ghulam Murtaza Bodla as its coordinator. After the group discussions, the participants formulated proposals for the Ministry of Health as directed by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.
Dr. Jehanzeb said, the establishment of PTMC will be a huge contribution in the field of psychological management of survivors of disaster. The centre is envisaged to provide a range of services including psychological first aid, psychological assessment, physiotherapy and trauma counselling.
“The centre will offer psychosocial rehabilitation of persons with psychological disorders. Out-reach mental health programmes for the community will also be formulated,” Dr. Jehanzeb informed.
Almost all countries of the world, except for Pakistan, have centres for promotion of mental health. Pakistan is lagging behind in this field.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment