Experts to assess mental health needs after Ebola in Liberia
Monrovia, 9 June 2015 - The Ebola outbreak that began in Guinea in March 2014 not only caused more than 27 000 cases and over 11 000 deaths in West Africa, it also left thousands of survivors, orphans, family members, health care workers and other support workers who require mental health and psychosocial support.
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are looking at how to rebuild and improve mental health systems after Ebola. Experts from the affected countries and from the World Health Organization (WHO) are meeting in Liberia this week to see what lessons have been learned and to draw a map for how to develop and recover these systems. Together with partners, they plan to create a generic response framework for mental health and psychosocial support, based on recent experiences in West Africa, for use in future outbreaks.
The consultation will include case studies and lessons learned from the affected countries, said Dr Mark van Ommeren, who leads WHO’s mental health efforts in emergencies. Participants include staff from Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, national and international NGO partners and donor agencies and staff from the WHO Regional Office for Africa, the three country offices and headquarters.
Interviews with experts can be arranged at the conclusion of the meeting, 11 June, which is being held at the RLJ Kendeja Resort in Monrovia, Liberia from 10 to 11 June 2015.
Contacts:
Melissa Winkler, Media Relations
Mobile: +231 770 496 162
Email: winklerm@who.int
Mark van Ommeren, Spokesperson
Mobile: +41 79 475 55 20
Email: vanommerenm@who.int
Fahmy Hanna, Spokesperson
Mobile: +41 79 945 08 24
Email: hannaf@who.int
Janet Kincaid, Media Relations
Email: kincaidj@who.int