Mental Health Issues Management is expected to improve at Bangwe Health Centre following a training that Malawi Liverpool Wellcome (MLW) has offered to health care workers.

A 2-day training that was held on 12 and 14 March 2022 was aimed at orienting Bangwe health care workers on effective approaches for managing primary mental health issues.

A Mental Health Care Expert Dr. Michael Udedi, who was the facilitator at the training, said alcohol use and suicide are prominent mental health issues rocking the country.

Udedi said he is hopeful that health care workers will be able to effectively identify and manage people with mental health problems in their communities.

“I expect that the participants will be able to use the knowledge and skills gained during the training to assess and manage primary care attendees presenting mental health problems at their facilities,” said Udedi.

One of the training’s participants Timothy Mkandawire who is an Adherence Psychosocial Officer in Antiretroviral Treatment (ARTs) at Bangwe Health Centre said the training will positively impact the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Mkandawire said most of the people who have mental health issues are HIV positive and these issues draw them away from ARTs and increase the viral load.

Meanwhile, Udedi says with enough resources the mental health training will be extended to other healthcare workers serving in different health facilities. Udedi also appealed to MLW to consider including mental health research activities in its programmes.

The TENDAI Study is being implemented by the Gender and Health Associate Group led by Dr. Moses Kumwenda.