Minister of Higher Education and Acting Minister of Health opens the 7th Conference of the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment» 

Dr. Khalid Abdul Ghaffar: Political leadership pays great attention to supporting the mental health of citizens 

Dr. Khalid Abdul Ghaffar confirms work to activate the National Council for Mental Health and hold its meetings periodically 

Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar stresses the importance of doctors enrolling in mental health specialization within the Egyptian Fellowship Program 
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Dr. Khalid Abdul Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Health and Population, witnessed the opening of the 7th Conference of the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, which will be held over two days at the Princess Fatima Academy of Vocational Education. 

The Minister began his speech by thanking the conference's events for their efforts in achieving and providing the best forms of psychological support to citizens of all categories.. 

The minister stressed that the political leadership pays great attention to the file of mental health support for citizens, and the development and qualification of the skills of mental health care providers, pointing out that the continued provision of full support for mental health. 

During his speech, the Minister also referred to the work to activate the National Council for Mental Health, and held its meetings periodically to come up with recommendations that reflect on the interest of the Egyptian citizen, praising the effective role provided by the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, headed by Dr. Menn Abdel Maksoud, to take care of the mental health of citizens. 

The minister stressed the importance of doctors joining the mental health specialty within the Egyptian fellowship program and graduate programs in the faculties of medicine, because of its active role is no less important than the rest of the medical specialties, pointing out the continued need of peoples for psychological support, especially in light of the crises that the world is going through. 

The Minister discussed the importance of the Egyptian Health Council, as an important step for organizing and coordinating all health and training providers. 

In turn, Dr. Ahmed Okasha, professor of psychiatry and advisor to the President of the Republic for Mental Health and Community Compatibility, added that psychiatry is one of the most important foundations and pillars of societies, provided that it is provided through doctors specialized in psychotherapy, pointing out the need to urge doctors to join psychiatric specialties in fellowship programs to hone their skills and provide services based on the latest scientific evidence. 

Dr. Menin Abdel Maksoud, Head of the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, pointed to the ministry of health and population's interest in psychiatry, through the establishment of the General Secretariat for Mental Health 24 years ago, stressing that the expansion in Egypt in providing awareness services, prevention and treatment of addiction and mental illness, indicates the existence of a goal and vision for a citizen capable of building and meeting challenges.. 

The conference included training workshops in which professors from Cairo universities, Ain Shams, Al Azhar and various Egyptian universities lectured on overcoming the difficulties and problems facing medical teams during work pressures, especially in times of crisis and disaster, in addition to a number of lectures given by professors of psychiatry and specialists in mental health and addiction treatment.