The Ministry of Health, with support from the World Bank HEPRR MPA project, has conducted a Mental Health and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Tf-CBT) training for 25 health care workers. Participants were drawn from One Stop Centres across five provinces: North Western, Southern, Muchinga, Copperbelt, and Luapula. Next week, an additional 25 health workers from Eastern, Central, Northern, Western, and Lusaka provinces will undergo the same capacity-building program.
The training aims to strengthen the integration of mental health and psychosocial support in counseling and trauma services for survivors. It also focuses on fostering social integration, including reintegration into society and access to essential resources. By equipping health workers with specialized skills in Tf-CBT, the Ministry seeks to improve the quality of care for survivors and ensure effective recovery support.
One Stop Centres in Zambia provide integrated services to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). These centres bring together health workers, police officers, social workers, and legal personnel to offer coordinated medical, legal, and psychosocial assistance in a single location. This approach minimizes the need for survivors to navigate multiple agencies, providing immediate care and long-term support to help them rebuild their lives.
The Tf-CBT training is part of the Ministry of Health’s broader strategy to strengthen mental health integration within key health disciplines. By enhancing the capacity of frontline health workers, the program ensures comprehensive service delivery, improves survivor outcomes, and promotes holistic health care for the general public.
This initiative highlights Zambia’s commitment to addressing mental health challenges and building a responsive, survivor-centered support system that prioritizes recovery, social reintegration, and access to essential services.