The Ministry of Health and Population announced the implementation of an awareness program in cooperation with UNICEF, aimed at providing effective parenting guidance for dealing with children, as part of the Ministry’s efforts to provide integrated healthcare services for adolescents and raise Egyptian families’ awareness of positive parenting principles.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, emphasized that parenting guidance plays a pivotal role in shaping adolescents’ personalities and preparing them psychologically for a safe transition into adulthood. He explained that adolescents at this sensitive stage need emotional support, attentive listening, and a sense of safety and confidence, alongside appropriate rules and supervision.
Dr. Ayman Abbas, Head of the Central Administration for the General Secretariat of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, announced the launch of a joint project between the Ministry and UNICEF Egypt to develop an awareness program providing guidance on the best ways to interact with children. He stressed the importance of parents recognizing that the psychological and emotional changes adolescents experience are a natural and essential part of their development.
Dr. Nevine Doss, Health Section Chief at UNICEF Egypt, explained that supporting the mental health of children and adolescents through health messages directed at parents represents a challenge that requires equipping parents with the skills needed to address negative behaviors, manage emotions, and practice self-care.
Dr. Sally Nobi, project coordinator and Director General of Specialized Psychiatry at the Central Administration for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, emphasized that families who understand adolescents’ psychological needs help them develop the psychological and social skills necessary to build more balanced and independent personalities and prepare for the next stages of their lives. She noted that the program’s educational content was developed by a specialized technical team in adolescent psychiatry.
Dr. Walaa Hosny, Director of the Children and Adolescents Department at the Mental Health Secretariat, added that family counseling is an ongoing service and an integral part of treatment plans. It is regularly provided at children’s and adolescents’ units in hospitals affiliated with the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, including Abbasiya, Maamoura, Assiut, Shebin El-Kom, Banha, Minya, Helwan, Sohag, and Abbas Helmy hospitals.
A meeting was held at UNICEF’s office in Cairo to discuss the technical and scientific vision for media messages targeting parents. The meeting was attended by Dr. Hisham Rami, Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Ain Shams University’s Faculty of Medicine; Dr. Noha Sabry, Professor of Psychiatry at Cairo University; Dr. Nermin Shaker, Professor of Psychiatry at Ain Shams University; and a number of experts and specialists.
🖋️Source: Akhbar El Youm Portal
