‘Work underway for opening 13 new clinics’

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 17: Director of the Central Department for Primary Healthcare at the Ministry of Health Dr Dina Al- Dhabib affirmed about the expansion of mental health clinics in primary healthcare centers in all health zones soon, reports Al-Anba daily. In a press statement, she revealed that work is underway for the opening of 13 new clinics, which will bring the total number of clinics in mental health centers to 35 in the future after the new clinics are opened. Dr Al-Dhabib explained that the current number of clinics in the primary mental healthcare centers in all the health zones is 22.

There are 12 mental health clinics in the Capital health zone, two in Hawally health zone, one in Jahra health zone, three in Farwaniya health zone and four in Ahmadi health zone. The mental health clinics to be opened soon include three new clinics in Hawally health zone (Mishref, Al-Salaam and Bayan), thus bringing the total number of clinics in the governorate to five including the two current clinics.

Six new clinics will also be opened in the Capital health zone, which will be in Jaber Al-Ahmad, Doha, Surra, Abdullah Al-Salem area, Al-Ahqaqee (Daiya area), and Zalzalah (Dasma area. Therefore, the total number of mental health clinics in the Capital health zone will be 18 including the 12 current clinics. In the Ahmadi health zone, two new mental health clinics are being prepared in Hadiya and Fahaheel specialized centers. Therefore, the total number of mental health clinics in the zone will be six. In Farwaniya health zone, two new clinics are being prepared in centers of Rehab and Andalous areas, thus bringing the total number of clinics to 3. Dr Al-Dabaib announced the resumption of 22 mental health clinics in all healthcare centers in all health zones after the suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She stressed that mental health clinics in primary healthcare centers are seeking to reduce patients within the community, provide complete physical and psychological healthcare services for individuals and their families, and help those suffering from undiagnosed mental illnesses and those who refrain from psychological treatment due to fear of being stigmatized, by providing mental health services in primary healthcare centers close to the patients. Dr Al-Dabaib explained that mental health clinics in primary healthcare centers will provide mental health programs in primary health care with the aim to provide trained family doctors, under the supervision of the mental health program of the Central Administration of Primary Health Care and in accordance with international protocols for diagnosis and psychotherapy, as well as for promoting early detection of mental disorders.

This program aims at limiting and reducing complications arising from mental illness for patients and their families, such as suicide, social isolation, family destruction, job loss or academic failure. In addition, she revealed that work is underway to train family doctors to open new clinics in Jahra health zone, indicating that there is only one clinic in Saad Al-Abdullah Health Center.