Tuesday 15th October
Today is the Eid public holiday. The place
is packed with people, families and children all wearing bright colourful
clothing. The praying began early this morning and feasting follows the day of
fasting yesterday. It is wonderful to see families celebrating and children
running around freely. It is customary for each family to slaughter an animal,
usually a sheep or a goat on this day to eat together; it is about family and
inclusion.
I spend the day making amendments
to a paper I have written with Dr. Peter Hughes that has now been peer reviewed
and will be re-submitted, hopefully to be published. It is based upon our
work here in Somaliland and so this is an exciting thing to be doing whilst I
am here in country.
I meet up with members of the
faculty and Dr. Jibril later in the evening for a celebratory dinner. It’s
great to hear that many members of faculty are extremely keen to continue with
the TOT courses we have now piloted and in particular would like to see more of
these such courses for senior members of faculty. I am delighted to hear that
the Head of Medicine shall be attending the psychiatry teaching for medical
students next week. It demonstrates a keen interest and a willingness to
consider psychiatry in other specialties. Liaison is important here and Dr.
Jibril and this doctor already act in liaison, referring each other patients
that they feel may benefit from cross-specialty input. This is very positive
and something that will inevitably improve the care of people with mental
disorders. Cross-specialty management may also help to break down the
barriers that exist between mental health and other medical/ surgical
specialties. It will also hopefully reduce the stigma associated with
psychiatry and mental health in general that exists in many different places in
the world, even among health professionals.
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