Italy, WHO join hands to strengthen community mental health, disability services in Jordan

AMMAN — The Italian government and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Sunday signed a project agreement to strengthen community mental health and disability services for vulnerable population in Jordan. 

Italian Ambassador Fabio Cassese, and WHO Country Representative Maria Cristina Profili signed the agreement at the residence of the Italian ambassador in the presence of Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation Amman (AICS) Michele Morana, according to an embassy statement.

The initiative, at a cost of 500,000 euros, spans over 24 months and targets more than 600 beneficiaries, of whom 50 per cent are women, the statement said. 

It aims at improving the mental well-being of vulnerable populations, notably Jordanians and Syrian refugees by reorganising and strengthening the community mental health and disability services in the country, read the statement

Vulnerable children and youth with developmental disorders and intellectual disabilities will be engaged through social inclusion initiatives.

The project’s concept stems from the idea of including people with mental disabilities in a broader intervention strategy that engages the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development in the de-institutionalisation process, the statement said.

“This is a project of great relevance. It responds to the needs identified on the territory by both WHO and the Jordanian government, in a strategic approach to support the country in addressing mental disorders,” Cassese said

AICS’ Morana said: “In line with the action of the Italian cooperation in favour of social inclusion, this project aims at creating synergies among relevant administrations and civil society in order to tackle the common challenges in the sectors of mental health and disability.”

WHO’s Profili said: ”This agreement is signed in conjunction with the World Mental Health Day held on October 10 each year.”

“With this year’s theme: ‘Moving for mental health: Let’s invest’, this initiative consolidates our previous and continuous collaboration between WHO, Italy and the Jordanian government, and represents an important step in our partnership to continue to support the efforts to guarantee quality mental health care to all those who need it, without leaving anyone behind,” Profili added.