NGPU
April 23, 2024
A New Era in Mental Health Support for Nakuru
Written by Ruth Magak
The County’s Department of Health continues to attract investments to enhance the well-being of its residents. Directors of Health, Dr. Daniel Wainaina for Medical and Dr. Joy Mugambi for Health Administration and Planning hosted a team from Finding Solutions International (FSI), a renowned international organization based in Arizona, USA, specializing in scaling up mental health education and awareness.
During the inception meeting, FSI expressed a strong interest in collaborating with the County to bolster mental health services within the community. Dr. Wainaina and Dr. Mugambi commended FSI’s initiative, recognizing its potential to significantly augment existing efforts in scaling up mental health care within the community.
Charity Northan, the Chief Executive Officer of FSI, announced Nakuru as the organization’s entry point into Kenya. She said that the organization has a presence in other African countries such as South Africa and Rwanda, and FSI is committed to expanding its reach starting from Nakuru County.
The collaboration between the County’s Department of Health and FSI holds promise in revolutionizing mental wellness and community support in Nakuru. As part of the partnership, there are plans to integrate a comprehensive 14-week curriculum for mental health education into the community through the existing school health programs.
This initiative aims to ensure that mental health issues are identified and addressed early, fostering a supportive environment for students’ mental well-being.
Dr. Wainaina provided guidance on the next steps of engagement, emphasizing the importance of aligning the collaboration with national policies and structures while meeting the specific needs of Nakuru residents. The team is now working towards jointly developing a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize this partnership and ensure its effectiveness in serving the community.
