MoU between Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS) and TPO Nepal

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS) and Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Nepal (TPO Nepal) on 18 December 2018. The purpose of this partnership between TPO Nepal and KAHS was to provide counseling services to people with mental health problems in Jumla as well as to integrate psychosocial and mental health counseling service in Jumla under the primary health care system. TPO Nepal has been partnering with KAHS since the last 5 years and providing counseling services through Out-Patient Department (OPD) as well as Jumla field office. The MoU primarily focused on research in Karnali district, in/out-patient support in mental health, recruitment of 2 psychosocial counsellors and their capacity building.

A coordination meeting was also held at Jumla on the same day, where around 20 stakeholders such as Assistant Chief District Officer of Jumla, Deputy Mayor of Chandannath municipality, District Health Officer and representatives from service centres, police, NGOs, KAHS and journalists participated. The meeting focused on the sharing of TPO Nepal’s activities in Jumla as well as collection of feedback for further collaboration. The meeting was facilitated by Pitambar Koirala, Program Coordinator, update of activities in Jumla was shared by Nandaraj Acharya, Field Coordinator and Psychosocial Counsellor, and concluded by Executive Manager of TPO Nepal, Suraj Koirala. Assistant Chief District Officer stressed on the need of collaboration with TPO Nepal for the mental health and well-being of prison inmates of Jumla, while District Health Officer expressed support and interest to collaborate for mental health promotion in the district.