MoPH’s Mental Health Unit lacks psychologists – Dr Hamilton

Graduates from the American University of Peace Studies were on Friday urged by Director of Primary Health Care, Dr Ertenisa Hamilton, to join the Ministry of Public Health’s team to strengthen its capacity to tackle mental health.

This statement was made at the university’s 2019 convocation ceremony held at Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown.
She noted that after recognising their human resource capacity was very limited, the Mental Health Unit was set up within the Public Health Ministry.
“That Unit is still functioning, and have gained some amount of capacity but it is still lacking. For the ten regions of Guyana, the amount of staff that we have in not adequate”, she explained.
The Director challenged the students to be a part of the team so that the situation can have a positive overturn.
“I am hoping that at the end of this conversation, we would have convinced some of you to come and join us”, she pleaded.
In addition, Chief Justice Roxane George reminded the students that their skill in psychology is very much needed in the local Judicial system.
“I hope that some of you will seek to partner with the supreme court to enhance the court services we provide to the public and importantly to ourselves”, she vocalised.
Nevertheless, American University of Peace Studies is expected to offer new courses and programmes in the new year including Research, Guidance and Counselling, Conflict Management and Peace in Conflict studies.