Dr Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, witnessed the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and Viatris, aimed at strengthening national efforts to support citizens’ mental health and to support the Presidential Initiative for Mental Health.
The MoU was signed on behalf of the health ministry by Dr Ayman Abbas, head of the Central Administration of the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, and on behalf of Viatris by Dr Mohamed Adel Khalil Mahmoud Sowilam, the company’s official representative.
Dr Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, the ministry’s official spokesperson, explained that the MoU focuses on implementing mental health awareness campaigns, exchanging knowledge and expertise, and building the capacity of professionals working in the field.
It includes cooperation in training and scientific research, support for awareness, prevention and treatment programs for mental disorders, improving service delivery, raising the efficiency of medical teams, and upgrading the digital platform used to support mental health services under the initiative.
The MoU also aims to raise public awareness and support the goals of Egypt’s Vision 2030 in mental healthcare.
Dr Ayman Mokhtar, regional president for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eurasia at Viatris, stressed that effective mental healthcare requires a comprehensive approach that ensures accurate diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate patient support.
He highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in achieving sustainable outcomes, noting that the Sahtak Sa‘ada (Your Health is Happiness) initiative represents a leading model in prioritizing both mental and physical health within the community.
On the sidelines of the signing, Dr Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar met with company representatives to review the implementation plan for the MoU’s provisions.
He underscored the importance of training physicians, nurses, and service providers on early-detection tools, launching wide-reaching media campaigns, and developing culturally appropriate educational materials.
The meeting also addressed efforts related to the detection and treatment of depression and anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, addiction, perinatal mental health, mental health for older adults, and disorders associated with chronic diseases
Officials noted that more than 5,000 healthcare providers have been trained across the governorates.
Source: Al Ahram Online
