Mental Health
One of our proudest achievements is the success of our mental health programmes. We’ve worked with a pioneering group of psychiatrists to introduce mental health services in hospital clinics and out in the community.
We work with the Mental Health Program of the Ministry of Health to improve access to holistic and recovery-oriented mental health services and create awareness across the population.
Pamoja Afya Bora Zanzibar
In partnership with the Lady Fatemah (a.s.) Charitable Trust we established the Pamoja Afya Bora Zanzibar programme. Pamoja Afya Bora methodology builds on the mental health first aid concept and has been adapted to our local concept and endorsed by the Ministry of Health. We aim to reach 10% of the Zanzibari adult population to:
- To increase awareness of mental health and its various conditions.
- To encourage mental well-being through self-care practices and the recognition of signs of poor mental health in both oneself and others.
- To diminish stigma and cultivate the confidence needed to engage in conversations on this topic.
Dawati Rafiki
Dawati Rafiki (Friendship Bench) is a concept which we adopted from Zimbabwe where we deliver problem-solving therapy, which is carried out by trained community health workers across Zanzibar.
Under this programme, this year: 2,734 community-based therapy sessions were conducted across Zanzibar, 170 Community Health Workers received refresher training, and 41% of the patients were new, with a 0.2% loss to follow-up.
Under the Pamoja Afya Bora Programme:
672 interpersonal sessions were conducted, reaching 11,783 people (43% youth).
500 people were referred for mental health services.
422 college students were trained to promote mental health awareness.
202 community leaders engaged in mental health sensitisation.
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular disease accounts for a massive 43.6% of deaths of people over 13 years in Zanzibar, with stroke being the leading cause of death (20.5%) whilst hypertension accounts for 7.3% of deaths. 23.3% of all adult outpatient admissions are due to cardiovascular conditions. Cardiovascular disease therefore poses both a significant morbidity and mortality risk to the population of Zanzibar and a substantial strain on an already overburdened healthcare system.
3,428 people were reached through integrated NCD outreach services.
226,519 people were screened for hypertension (140% of the project target).
4 healthcare workers were trained in echocardiography (ECHO) at JKCI, Tanzania’s cardiac institute.
Mentorship & training
We improved cardiovascular disease care at Kivunge District Hospital by providing clinical mentorship and specialist consultation through a seconded cardiologist placed at the hospital.
We send two of the resident doctors for a two-month cardiovascular training program at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.