Punjab government to establish Psycho Trauma Centres soon

With a view to resolve the issues of mental and psychiatric traumas of the victims of natural disasters, accidents and terrorist activities, the Punjab government has decided to establish "Psycho Trauma Centres" in the province soon. These centres will provide quality treatment and rehabilitation services to the people facing psychiatric problems due to the disasters and terrorist activities. After the worst terror attack at Army Public School Peshawar on December 16, the need of such centres was felt at national level for the rehabilitation of victims.
In this regard Co-ordinator of Prime Minister's National Psycho Social Advisory Council Marvi Memon MNA chaired a meeting here on Monday which was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Syed Mubashar Raza, Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik, Secretary Information and Culture Momin Agha, Secretary Higher Education Abdullah Sumbal, Secretary Schools Abdul Jabbar Shaheen, Special Secretary Home Dr Shoaib Akbar, health professionals, Professor Aftab Asif, Dr Rabia Farhan, Dr Shahid Hashmi, Rimsha Rafique, Dr Ali Hashmi, Dr Aftab Qadir Khan.
While addressing the meeting, Marvi Memon revealed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif already ordered to establish National Psycho Social Advisory Council.
She said that for retrieving the affectees from mental and psychological shocks and to solve their psycho and social problems the establishment of Psycho Trauma Centre at provincial level is a need of the hour.
Marvi Memon further said that three senior experts from each province have been included in the National Advisory Council.
The meeting decided to take onboard the Departments of Health, Information, Home, PDMA, medical colleges, universities, Higher Education, School Education and other institutions for preparing guidelines, social mobilisation, awareness campaign and other activities for implementing the action plan.
It was also decided that Provincial Mental Health Act 2001 should be reviewed further for legislation. Additional Chief Secretary Mubashar Raza and Secretary Health assured on behalf of Punjab government for extending all-out co-operation for establishing Psycho Trauma Centres in Punjab.