The system will be functional from Monday April 5 in whole of Tharparkar District
Sindh Mental Health Authority, in collaboration with Thar Foundation, LUMHS, Sir Cowasjee Institute and Sindh Health Department has imparted training to 200 doctors and a number of Lady Health Workers – Dr. Karim Khuwaja
By GR Junejo
Mithi, Tharparkar: For the first time in the history of Pakistan the project of Thar Tele-help has been launched in Desert District Tharparkar by Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMHA) in collaboration with four other stakeholders. From Monday 5th April the Tele-help system will be functional in whole of Thar.
Thar foundation, Health Department Government of Sindh, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) and Sir Cowasjee Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences have joined the hands with SMHA.
All these stake holders are working on this project since last two years and have trained 200 male and female doctors of Tharparkar for the prevention of suicide cases and on how to treat depression patients. Two months back the lady health workers have also been trained to start Thar Tele-help system.
For the purpose, the forms printed in Sindhi language have been given to lady health workers. They will go to the villages and identify the patient and fill the form. This form through apps will go to government civil hospital’s psychiatry ward in Mithi and Sir Cowasjee Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Hyderabad and the patient will be treated from there online three days a week – one day by the Mithi psychiatric doctor and two days by Sir Cowasjee Institute doctors. The patients will be given medicines free of cost for 15 days by Sir Cowasjee Institute of Psychiatry and Civil hospital Mithi. If needed, the patient will be admitted at Sir Cowasjee Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Hyderabad.
On April 01, a meeting was held at DHO office Mithi in which SMHA chairman Senator Dr. Karim Khuwaja, Vice Chancellor LUMHS Dr. Bikha Ram, General Manager Thar Foundation Naseer Memon, DHO Tharparkar Dr. Gordhan, MS Mithi Civil hospital Dr. Gul Munir Vistro, MS Sir Cowasjee Institute Dr. Amar Dabeer, psychiatrist Dr. Jameel Junejo from LUMHS, Dr. Bhert Kumar psychiatrist from Mithi, the representative of psychology department of Sindh University and Mr. Ali Talpur and others participated.
It was decided that in coming month first time in Pakistan’s history psychological autopsy will be conducted by Sindh University and LUMHS psychiatry department with the help of Professor Murad Mussa, who is the renowned expert in prevention of suicide of the world.
After the meeting, the team left for Nagarparkar where in a remote village the demonstration of Tharparkar Tele-help was made where a patient was identified by lady health worker and on smart phone it was connected with Mithi Civil hospital where psychiatrist asked the questions and treated the patients by giving instruction to him.
He will be provided with medicines free of cost.
Dr. Karim Khuwaja told Sindh Courier that this is a 1-year project funded by Thar Foundation and Insha Allah will continue for coming years also.
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