Posted on: 14 May 2025
This week at Mirembe Hospital, CNWL’s partnership in Tanzania, launched its campaign for Mental Health Awareness month. In attendance were representatives of the Ministry of Health, The University of Dodoma, Dodoma Prison, various local NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) with whom Mirembe collaborates to provide mental health care, and me, Chris Bumstead (CNWL International Healthcare Partnerships Coordinator) representing CNWL and the Tanzania Link.
The campaign started with events around Labour Day in Singida (1-3 May) where Mirembe staff offered mental health screening and advice. Mental Health Awareness month will continue with events in various cities around the Dodoma Region, local universities, NGO’s, companies and government agencies. Importantly, Mirembe will be working with these institutions HR departments to create more awareness and sensitivity surrounding mental health in the workplace.
Afya ya Akili Ni Afya means Mental Health is Health (The slogan for mental health awareness month)
Over the weekend (9-12 May) I travelled with a busload of Mirembe staff at the crack of dawn, before the muezzin called the faithful to prayer and the church bells start ringing, for a five-hour drive to Iringa University to deliver mental health awareness workshops to psychology students and healthcare workers at the district hospital. Once that was complete, we engaged in a media tour to promote mental health awareness to the community, culminating at the national conference for World Nurses Day on 12 May, where Mirembe Nurses made a presentation about mental health in the workplace.
Over the next couple of weeks there will be some fun events organised by Mirembe staff for the enjoyment of the staff and members of the public including a “bonanza” of games and sports events, a barbecue, a mental health awareness exhibition, and a painting day organised by the Occupational Therapists.
Mental health training programmes will be delivered at Morogoro and Babati District Hospitals by a multi-disciplinary team of doctors, nurses, psychologists and occupational therapists, and myself.
The month will conclude with attendance from 30-31 May at the Tanzania Mental Health Summit in Kahama (about a 12-hour car ride from Dodoma), where there will be representatives of all agencies involved in mental health care in Tanzania with some representatives from CNWL flying over to attend.
Chris Bumstead – CNWL International Healthcare Partnerships Coordinator
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