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'Mental Health
- Understanding the Challenges' will be the theme of Aga Khan University
(AKU) Annual National Health Sciences Research Symposium on September 22-23, 2003.
The symposium
will have the primary objective of understanding and discussing
mental health challenges in Pakistan
and the developing world. The symposium will provide opportunities
for specialists in mental health and human development to present
their work, critique current ideas and develop collaborative ventures
that would pave the way in formulating mental health policies, legislation
and also in establishing community care facilities for the mentally
ill.
Ambassador Saidullah
Khan Dehlavi, Chairman, Board of Trustees of AKU, will be the
chief guest. Eminent national and international speakers from Pakistan,
India, Switzerland, USA and UK will cover issues such as de-stigmatization,
child mental health, drug abuse, suicide prevention, mood disorders,
and religious superstitions in Muslim communities. The opening remarks
will be by Dr. Murad Moosa Khan,
Chair Department of Psychiatry, Aga Khan University, welcome address
by Dr. David Taylor, Acting
Provost, Aga Khan University. The keynote address will be given
by Dr. Benedetto Saraceno,
Director, Mental Health Division, World Health Organization, Geneva.
The symposium
will also include workshops on Mental Health Promotion in schools,
families, communities and workplace and a post-symposium workshop
on Molecular Biology in collaboration with Karolinska Institute,
Stockholm, Sweden,
on September 24-27. In addition, there will be an exhibition of
medical and scientific products. The two-day event will start with
an inaugural ceremony on September
22, 2003 at 8:00 AM.
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