The Ministry of Health in Zambia continued its work to strengthen mental health services through targeted training for frontline personnel. From 24 to 28 November, teams of trainers worked in Southern, Luapula, Copperbelt and Central Provinces to equip district and facility based providers with practical skills for emergency preparedness and response.
The training is part of a World Bank supported multiphase project designed to build a resilient health care system. A total of 120 providers completed the programme, bringing the overall number trained to 180.
Participants included registered nurses, clinical officers general, clinical officers psychiatry, registered mental health nurses, psychosocial counsellors and midwives. Each group received focused instruction on mental health screening, early detection, case management, referral and follow up.
The sessions aimed to strengthen providers’ ability to support victims, at risk individuals, families and communities during and after emergencies. Trainers covered mental health integration in primary health care and practical approaches to liaison psychiatry to improve coordination across services.
The Ministry highlighted that this effort forms part of a broader plan to improve mental health delivery across Zambia. By expanding the skills of frontline workers, the government seeks to improve access to care and build a system that responds quickly and effectively during crises.
The continued investment in mental health reflects a commitment to comprehensive and people centred health services for the general public.