DHAKA – Saima Wazed Hossain, Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism and NDDs, yesterday chaired the first session of a two-day workshop in Nepal on regional capacity building on mental health in emergencies.

World Health Organization (WHO) South East Asia Regional Office and Government of Nepal are jointly organizing the workshop that was inaugurated on August 28.

Saima, a licensed School Psychologist, was invited at the workshop as an expert, a press release of Centre for Research and Information (CRI) said here today.

The objectives of the workshop were to provide technical updates on situations, and available technical tools for mental health and psychological support in emergencies, including knowledge and experience sharing across countries; discuss road map to build national capacity for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in emergencies.

In addition to speaking at the inaugural session, Saima made a presentation titled Cross-sectoral approach to MHPSS planning and implementations during the second session of the first day (A Coordinated Response to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support).

Her presentation provided explanation on why it is important to address mental health issues in a disaster or emergency situation, gave insight into initiatives taken in Bangladesh, how such initiatives were developed, and suggestions on how to develop a national strategy to provide such support.

A part of the first day was also spent on contributing to the Collaborative Framework for Coordinated Response to MHPSS in Emergencies, development of which is being spearheaded by WHO-SEARO.

Saima, Chairperson of Shuchona Foundation, International Focal Point of the Advisory Group on Disability and Disaster Risk Management, Ministry of Disaster Management, is also WHO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Autism in the South East Asia Region.