A transformative 5-day workshop on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), utilizing the Mental Health Gap Action Programme Humanitarian Intervention Guide (Mh GAP-HIG) guidelines, recently took place in Santa, in the North West region of Cameroon. The workshop, held this August 2025, brought together 25 midwives and healthcare practitioners from the region, including six representatives from three CBC Health facilities: Ndu Baptist Hospital, Ashong Baptist Health Center, and Finkwi Baptist Health Center.
The workshop, which aimed at strengthening the capacity of health professionals in addressing mental health issues, was officially opened by the North West Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr. Ambe Lionel. In his opening remarks, he thanked the UNFPA and DG-ECHO for the initiative, highlighting the significance of such training, particularly in the context of the Anglophone crisis. He emphasized that both healthcare workers and the local communities have been deeply affected by stressors stemming from the ongoing conflict in the region, making mental health support crucial.
The workshop’s goal was to provide midwives with the necessary skills to detect, assess, and refer mental health cases, particularly focusing on conditions such as anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders that are prevalent among women, especially in conflict settings. The training, led by experienced facilitators in MHPSS, equipped these healthcare professionals to provide basic psychological first aid, and to refer patients for specialized treatment where necessary.
The mh GAP-HIG training is a valuable tool in rural and conflict-affected hard to reach communities, where access to specialized mental health services is limited. By training midwives on how to identify and address mental health conditions, the workshop contributes to improving maternal and child health outcomes. Midwives, as primary healthcare providers for women, are uniquely positioned to offer mental health support during critical periods such as pregnancy and the postnatal phase.
The six midwives from the CBC Health facilities, now trauma-informed, have gained the expertise to address the mental health needs of the communities they serve. They are now better equipped to identify mental health conditions early, provide psychosocial support, and refer individuals for appropriate care, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes in these vulnerable areas.
This initiative is part of the broader efforts to enhance the resilience of health systems in the North West and South West regions, as they navigate the challenges posed by ongoing conflict. Through such capacity-building workshops, midwives and health professionals are empowered to play a crucial role in supporting the mental and emotional well-being of women and families in the region, fostering a more comprehensive approach to healthcare delivery.
This training forms a key part of the “Delivering Lifesaving Integrated and Holistic Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Services to Women and Girls in Hard-to-Reach Conflict-Affected Localities in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon” project. Funded by ECHO through UNFPA, this initiative aims to improve access to essential reproductive health services for women and girls in conflict-affected areas, ensuring that survivors of GBV receive timely and respectful care.
