The Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA) has announced the opening of a free mental health clinic for Sudanese refugees in the Kisaasi area of Uganda’s capital, Kampala. The service is available by prior appointment for those seeking psychological support.
Ahmed Al-Tayeb, a volunteer physician with the association, told Mashaweer that “the clinic has a specialized team of doctors, mental health professionals and nursing staff, providing counseling, assessment, treatment and follow-up services, including support for people experiencing mental health disorders.”
He added that “the services also cover people facing challenges related to alcohol or drug addiction, with cases requiring further care eligible for referral to a contracted rehabilitation center based on the assessment of the specialist physician.”
Meanwhile, Nidal Musa, a mental health specialist and Sudanese refugee in Uganda, told Mashaweer that “providing free mental health services represents an important need for Sudanese refugees, given the pressures caused by war and displacement, including the loss and disruption of psychological and social stability.”
She noted that “timely access to psychological support helps people cope with the effects of trauma and stress.”
Musa called for strengthening mental health services and ensuring their continued availability to refugees, while taking into account beneficiaries’ privacy and their social and cultural circumstances.
