Children, women are most psychologically-affected by war, aggression: Health Minister

Minister of Public Health and Population, Dr. Taha Al-Mutawakel, said on Saturday that children and women are the most psychologically-affected groups from the effects of war and aggression.

During an event marking the World Mental Health Day held by the National Program for Mental Health and Social Support at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Al-Mutawakel affirmed that the international organizations that supported in the psychological aspect did not achieve anything and wasted millions of dollars.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) wants to waste money and grants. It is working on scattering huge budgets, despite that we submitted projects and alternatives that are practical, less costly and more beneficial to patients,” he said.

Japan has provided a grant of thee million dollars to support the field of psychotherapy, but the WHO wants to waste the amount in operating expenses for its staff and training courses devoid of interest for a period of two days, he added.

For his part, Dr. Mohammed Al-Mansour, Undersecretary for the Primary Care Sector at the Ministry of Health, affirmed that the humanitarian work partners refrain from supporting mental health, providing incentives and operating expenses.

Al-Mansour indicated that the statistics provided by the Development and Psychological Counseling Organization and the European Union project in six districts were shocking.

“The International and local organizations are invited to work in this important field, which should be placed at the top of the list of grants, funding and support,” he said.

In turn, Director General of the National Program for Mental Health and Social Support, Dr. Abdulquddous Harmal, explained that the Ministry has mandated the program to prepare an urgent response plan for the year 2020 to raise the level of services reality by 50 percent.