Tanga – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) – the United Nations Migration Agency – in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups facilitated the third roll-out training on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Service (MHPSS) to relevant frontline workers from Local Government Authorities and faith based organizations in Tanga region, with support from IOM Development Fund 10-12 August 2022.

The third roll-out training in Tanga follows the Training of trainers (ToT) on MHPSS which took place in Mwanza on 20-24 June 2022, the first and second roll-out training on MHPSS in Dar es Salaam  and Arusha on 13-15 July 2022 and 27-29 July 2022 respectively.

On 10-12 August 2022, IOM successfully conducted the third roll-out training on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Service to relevant frontline workers from various districts of Tanga region including Handeni, Kilindi, Korogwe, Lushoto, Muheza, Pangani and Tanga.

The training aimed to strengthen knowledge and skills of the participants on provision of standardized and quality Mental Health, Psychosocial Care and Support Services that are responsive to the vulnerable and affected populations for their optimal psychological and social wellbeing.

A total of 31 people participated to the roll-out training. Participants included Social Welfare officers, Religious leaders, Gender Desk Police officers and Probation officers, then officers from the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, President's Office - Regional Administration and Local Government, Ministry of Health and Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative participated as facilitators of the training.

On the first day of the training, participants were introduced with the basic concepts on emergency and disasters, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services and their relevant legal frameworks in the United Republic of Tanzania.

The knowledge and skills on provision of MHPSS were delivered by facilitators to the participants by the means of presentations, group work discussions, case studies but also questions and answers.

The roll-out training has improved understanding of the participants on provision of standard services on Mental Health, Psychosocial Care and Support to the vulnerable and affected populations. After the training the participants were able to demonstrate existing MHPSS cases in their areas and how better they are going to assist the affected population with the quality Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services.

Also, the participants had drafted action plans with planned activities to be implemented in their areas to improve provision of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services.

The roll-out training was blessed by participation of two Officers from IOM Development who did interviews with some participants to assess the performance of the project titled “Capacity Building in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the United Republic of Tanzania” on which MHPSS interventions are part it.

The next roll-out training on MHPSS is planned to take place in Morogoro region.

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For more information, please contact:

Mr. Reuben Mbugi at rmbugi@iom.int or tel.: +255 718 983 910

Ms. Natalie Martinsson at nmartinsson@iom.int  tel.: +255 756 946 586