By Michael Gwarisa
A 10-day Mental Health Leadership Program has kicked off in Harare, Zimbabwe, amid growing calls for governments to prioritize mental health as a public health emergency, HealthTimes has learned.
The training program, aimed at equipping leaders from various sectors with the necessary skills and capacity to address the growing burden of mental health-related challenges on the continent, is being hosted by the University of Zimbabwe in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC). The programme is supported by Wellcome Trust and will run from March 24 to April 4, 2025.
Officially launching the training on behalf of Minister of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aspect Muanganidze, the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Deputy Director in the Ministry, Dr. Justice Mudavanhu, said mental health has been neglected for far too long.
This program is a much-needed effort to strengthen leadership in mental health across our continent. Mental health and NCDs have been neglected for too long in Zimbabwe, resulting in an unprecedented burden of both mental health conditions and NCDs,” said Dr. Mudavanhu.
He emphasized that mental health is a critical pillar of public health and national development, adding that Zimbabwe is taking mental health very seriously. However, he noted that the burden of mental health conditions continues to rise, driven by economic challenges, climate change, and social hardships.
“In Zimbabwe and across Africa, we must confront this reality with urgency, expertise, and commitment. This is why initiatives such as the Mental Health Leadership Programme are very welcome.”
Dr. Mudavanhu added that Zimbabwe has made mental health an integral part of the country’s national health strategy through the launch of the Zimbabwe National Mental Health Strategy. This strategy emphasizes community-based mental health services by integrating them into primary healthcare and promoting multi-sectoral collaboration.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdulaziz, Head of the Division of NCDs, Injuries, and Mental Health at Africa CDC, said neglecting mental health is one of the major obstacles preventing Africa from achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“The Africa CDC Mental Health Leadership Program was created for a purpose. We decided to allocate funding to mental health because it remains a neglected issue. However, ignoring mental health is keeping us from achieving Universal Health Coverage and every other major health goal,” said Dr. Abdulaziz.
He emphasized that the definition of health includes mental well-being, which underscores its importance within the broader healthcare system. He also called for innovative ideas to raise funding for mental health programs across Africa.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health disorders account for 13% of the global burden of disease, with depression being a leading cause of disability. However, Africa remains significantly under-resourced in mental health services, with fewer than one mental health worker per 100,000 people in many countries. The Africa CDC Mental Health Leadership Program aims to bridge this gap by training professionals from diverse fields to strengthen the continent’s response to mental health challenges.
The Mental Health Leadership Programme is a short course, and Africa CDC has supported several public health professionals from African Union (AU) member states to participate. This training, the first of its kind in Southern Africa, has attracted 33 participants from across Africa, including epidemiologists, psychiatrists, lawyers, engineers, media professionals, and individuals with lived experiences.
Speaking at the event, Professor Joconiah Chirenda, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Clinical Deputy Dean and Infectious Diseases Specialist, urged participants to use the knowledge gained to advocate for greater support for mental health programs in their respective countries.
“This training is important for us as Africa. We are losing our youth to substance abuse. Mental health is one of the most neglected areas, and very few organizations are willing to fund mental health compared to diseases like TB, malaria, and HIV. As you go out there, engage with the people and mobilize resources for mental health,” said Prof. Chirenda.
