The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Lundbeck, a Danish international pharmaceutical company, to raise community awareness on mental health disorders.

The awareness programme will highlight disorders such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease, among others.

Present during the signing ceremony were Dr Mohamed Salim Al Olama, undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention; Dr Hussein Abdel Rahman Al Rand, assistant undersecretary of the Ministry’s Health Centers and Clinics Sector; and from Lundbeck, Emad Wajih, regional manager for the Gulf and the Near East and Henrik Larsen, managing director of Lundbeck Middle East and North Africa (Mena).

Al Rand stressed that the agreement aims to implement stronger preventive measures and ensure early detection of mental disorders in alignment with the UAE’s national strategy preventing mental illnesses and providing rehabilitation of and support for mental patients, said a statement from the ministry.

The national strategy also seeks to help patients integrate into society and build high-quality life, it said.

Dr Youssif Al Serkal, assistant undersecretary for the Ministry of Health and Prevention Hospitals Sector, mentioned that the Council of Ministers’ move to adopt the National Policy for the Promotion of Mental Health done during its previous session, with the aim of preparing a multi-sectoral framework and developing special services in partnership with concerned authorities.

The adoption resulted in enhanced quality of services and lesser treatment costs in accordance with national and international policies, legislations, programmes, and partnerships.

Larsen said: “We are pleased to sign the deal with the Ministry of Health and Prevention. This is a show of our support to the government’s efforts to promote exchange of experiences, increase community awareness, educate healthcare practitioners, and empower patients through specialised programmes.”

“Our partnership is part of our social responsibility to aid individuals suffering from mental disorders so that they can smoothly integrate into the community where they will be happier and productive members of our society,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service