Many receiving mental wellbeing service from Gen Z units

By Raman Paudel,Kathmandu, Nov. 24: Minister for Health and Population Dr. Sudha Sharma Gautam instituted Gen Z units at 15 different hospitals after taking oath of office and secrecy a month ago. 

While visiting those wounded in the Gen Z movement, she announced the establishment of Gen Z units in various hospitals.

These units are intended not only for the treatment of Gen Z wounded but also for providing psychosocial counseling to ordinary people who have been struggling with mental health issues in the wake of the Gen Z movement.

According to officials at the Ministry of Health and Population, Minister Dr. Gautam has prioritized psychosocial counseling among her six major priorities to enhance health services.

“Many people have received mental health services from Gen Z units at various hospitals, as the Ministry has prioritized this service. We are informed that thousands of affected people have received mental health services from the units; however, comprehensive data is yet to be collected,” stated Dr. Pomawati Thapa, Chief of the Department of Non-communicable Disease and Mental Health.

Dr. Thapa also noted that the number of beneficiaries who have received psychosocial counseling and treatment is higher than ever before.

Similarly, the Ministry has initiated the deployment of hundreds of certified psychosocial counselors in all provincial and district hospitals, as well as local health posts.

Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, spokesperson for the Ministry, stated that the Minister is concerned about enhancing health services. For this reason, the Minister has prioritized mental health services among her six key priorities. The Ministry has begun its work on mental health services accordingly, said Dr. Budhathoki.

Speaking to The Rising Nepal, Dr. Budhathoki said that the Minister would achieve her goals in the health sector, as she is both a former administrator of the Ministry and a medical doctor.

“Since Minister Dr. Gautam worked at the Ministry as an administrator and is a medical expert, I believe she has identified several health issues and knows well how to address them,” said Dr. Budhathoki.

In the meantime, over 400 counselors have been deployed in various hospitals, and at least 753 certified counselors appointed at every local level will be providing psychosocial counseling and treatment, according to Dr. Budhathoki.

Similarly, the Ministry has activated services under its One-Stop Crisis Management System, which was established to address domestic violence and issues related to children.

Six priorities of Health Minister

After the oath-taking ceremony, Minister Dr. Gautam announced an ‘Immediate Health Sector Reform Action Plan’.

The action plan outlines six key priority areas: treatment and psychosocial counseling services for Gen Z wounded, special campaigns targeting reductions in neonatal and maternal mortality, good governance and service delivery, health insurance reform, public procurement reform, and health improvement for workers going to foreign labour destinations.

Among these, the Ministry of Health and Population has already initiated work on psychosocial counseling and treatment.

Spokesperson Dr. Budhathoki said that every beneficiary will experience positive changes in the health sector through the newly implemented ‘Immediate Health Sector Reform Action Plan’ within a month. According to Dr. Thapa, many affected individuals, including their parents, have been receiving psychosocial counseling and treatment.

Meanwhile, Ministry officials have monitored the Gen Z units, including the counseling centres at provincial hospitals.

“We have activated the counseling centres already operating in various hospitals. Similarly, if some hospitals have more counselors than needed, we are sending them to hospitals with vacancies,” stated spokesperson Dr. Budhathoki.

Furthermore, Minister Dr. Gautam has ordered outpatient services to operate in two shifts within two months, making services at the Federal Hospital and the Institute of Health Sciences more citizen-friendly.

It is also reported that the working procedure will be approved to provide grants for the operation of five-, ten-, and fifteen-bed basic hospitals that have been constructed and handed over according to the same plan.

The Minister’s new action plan includes the immediate approval of the organizational structure and positions of the Health Insurance Board using a fast-track process. This aims to ensure the effective implementation of the health insurance programme and the regular maintenance of hospital equipment, helping to provide uninterrupted service delivery.

Similarly, the Ministry has initiated the establishment of a health desk at Tribhuvan International Airport to raise awareness about health security among migrant workers going abroad.