Two days event was held to mark the successful completion of project
A two days event was held to mark the successful completion of project titled “Support Women and Children office to establish 16 Community Based Psychosocial support centers in Nuwakot, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Okhaldhunga, Rasuwa, Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk” and “Psychosocial support to six flood affected districts Mahottari, Rautahat, Banke, Bardiya, Sarlahi and Dhanusa” at Hotel Shivam Plaza on December 28 and December 29, 2017. The former project was supported by UNICEF from 15 June 2016 to 31 December 2017 with the main objective of providing technical support to strengthen psychosocial support centers conducted by women cooperatives promoted by Women and Children Office. Similarly, the latter project was supported by UNICEF from August 2017 to 31 December 2017 with the main objective of providing psychosocial support to community people in the flood affected districts.
Review and clinical supervision meeting of district counselors was conducted on 28th December. Individual presentations were given by district counselors from all 13 project districts. The presentations focused on project activities, achievement, challenges and recommendations. Most of the counselors stated that awareness had increased among community people about mental health and psychosocial support. Service users had also gotten better and were able to return to their daily lives after receiving psychosocial support. Local government from some of the districts had even showed commitment to continue this program in the future.
Formal conclusion program was conducted on the second day, 29th December. The program lasted two hours and was attended by TPO Nepal staffs, district counselors, project staffs and representatives from Women and Children Office and UNICEF.
Ms. Jamuna Maharjan, Clinical Manager of TPO Nepal welcomed the participants and thanked everyone involved in the project, despite the difficult conditions following the disaster. Mr. Rambabu Nepal, district focal person of Sindhupalchowk district and Ms. Nilu Jha, psychosocial counselor from Rautahat district shared their experiences about the project. Ms. Parbati Shrestha, Project Manager, shared that even though the project had ended, advocacy needs to be continued in local levels, which is also an opportunity. Ms. Upama Malla from UNICEF, Ms. Nila Kumari Ghimire from WCO Bhaktapur and Ms. Mamata Bista from WCO Kathmmandu also gave their remarks about the project. After this, token of love and certificate was distributed to everyone involved in the project.
Final remarks were given by Mr. Suraj Koirala, Executive Manager of TPO Nepal. He stated that for the first time in history, Women and Children Office had taken leadership for the mainstreaming of mental health and psychosocial support. He thanked UNICEF for their continuous support to TPO Nepal and all the stakeholders directly and indirectly involved to make this project successful.
