AFGHANISTAN - Press release on World Health Day 7 April 2001

This year the World Health Day (7^th April 2001) is being celebrated under the motto of "mental health". With a balanced mental disposition, one is more effective in coping with the stresses of the life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a positive contribution to his or her community. Mental health is a fundamental building block for human development and its problems are a part of life that they can arise and that they can be addressed.

Approximately one in five of the world’s youth (15 years and younger) suffer from mild to severe disorders. A large number of these children remain untreated as services simply do not exist. WHO Director General Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland in her address on the World Health Day stated " We focus on mental health in recognition of the burden that mental and brain disorders pose on people and families. An estimated 400 million people alive today suffer from mental or neurological disordes and psychosocial problems as those related to alcohol and drug abuse. The simple truth is that we have the means to treat many disorders. We have the means and scientific knowledge to help people with their suffering."

Many countries in Africa and Asia are engulfed in conflict and civil strife resulting in an adverse impact on the mental health and well-being of the affected population. It is estimated that there are between 40 to 50 million refugees and displaced persons worldwide. Of these, only 22.4 million receive humanitarian protection and assistance. Wars, other forms of violence and disasters contribute to the growth of psychological and socio-economic burden.

Epilepsy is universal and more frequent in developing countries. It is a brain disease characterized by repeated seizures, which may take many forms, ranging from the shortest lapse of attention to severe and frequent convulsions. The causes are multiple e.g. trauma to the brain infections such as encephalitis, parasites, alcohol or other toxic substances. However, in half of the cases, the cause remains unknown. Epilepsy is treated by neurologists when available or by psychiatrists in many other places. About 45 million people of all ages are affected by epilepsy in the World. Nearly 70% of newly diagnosed cases can be successfully treated with anti-epileptic medication. Mental illnesses and brain disorders provoke suffering, cause disability and can even shorten life. The disability associated with mental or brain disorder stops people from working and engaging in other creative activities.

Unipolar depression, bipolar affective disorder (manic-depression), schizophrenia, alcohol use and obsessive-compulsive disorder are among the 10 leading causes of disability world-wide in 1990. Research is being conducted to determine the genetic origins of biological factors of various disorders. During the last half century there has been quite a revolution in the understanding and treatment of the said major mental illness.

Rehabilitation measures, aimed at enhancing social and personal skills, assist persons with depression to regain a normal life.

Dr. H. A. Gezairy, Regional Director of the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization in his address for World Health Day stated that Mental Health is influenced by cultural life, tradition, religious aspirations and, in short, all aspects of emotional, intellectual and spiritual life of a population. The countries of this region are still blessed with the existence of strong family ties and more cohensive social institutions and the presence of spirituality and religious beliefs which positively affect the mental health of the population. The facts show that persons suffering from a mental illness or a brain disorder can improve and contribute to society. A change now needs to happen in our hearts to accept the knowledge which has been gained and to adopt a new attitude about mental health.

Policy-makers and government authorities should recognise the importance of mental health to include mental health services in the new national health policies, to provide proper training in mental health to all health personnel to cope with the problem and to promote health among youth to prevent the adverse effects of social changes such as increased alcoholism, suicide-violence and criminality.

 Back