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International Alliances contributing to pioneering specialist mental health workforce development in Malawi

July 1, 2016

Malawi, Southeast Africa, has one medical school in the country, so specialist mental health students are making key partnerships with Capetown, South Africa and the Scotland Malawi Mental Health Education Project (SMMHEP), based in the United Kingdom.  Malawi mental health project is providing assistance to the mental health needs of the country and the Malawi medical school students. According to Dr Jen Ahrens of SMMHEP, the underdevelopment of mental health services in the country is one of its largest burdens, as the development of their mental health system is in its early stages.

One shining light may be the commitment to studies shown by Malawi psychiatric students Dr Chipiliro Kadzongwe, Dr Kazione Kulisewa, and Dr Olive Liwimbi who committed to complete the newly developed post-graduate qualification in psychiatry (Masters in Medicine: Psychiatry).  The specialist training program involves two years in Malawi, before leaving the family supports to study for a further two years in Cape Town.  This innovative program developed by Malawi’s College of Medicine and the SMMHEP ensures access to the specialist training that is not available in such early stages of development of the mental health services in Malawi.  The SMMHEP, as a charitable organisation based in Scotland, has supported mental health education in Malawi since 2006, assisted by the Scotland Malawi Partnership development grants.

The commitment from Malawi, South Africa, and Scotland, was inspiring for St Vincent’s mental health staff volunteering with the Scotland Malawi Partnership.  Personal connections with all three countries and the shared vision to improve access to life saving treatments led to the link with yet still a further partner, vital for completing the final stages of this ambitious program.

St. Vincent’s Foundation’s Trauer Family Grant, has provided essential support for Malawi psychiatrists Dr Chipiliro Kadzongwe and Dr Kazione Kulisewa to complete their last 6 months study in Cape Town.  This was seen by the Australian partners as a valuable opportunity to invest in mental health workers, and the capacity of Malawi to further develop mental health workforce in a sustainable way.

Overall, this initiative recognises the hurdles that mental health practitioners face in developing health systems, and low income settings, and celebrates the men and women who are working so hard to overcome these barriers.

Map of Malawi

Map of Malawi