Karachi: Karwan-e-Hayat, Pakistan's leading institute for mental healthcare, hosted the 2nd International Psychosocial and Psychiatric Rehabilitation Conference (PPRC’24) at a leading hotel in Karachi on December 20-21, 2024. With the theme "Mental Health in the New Millennium," the conference kicked off with a pivotal inaugural session featuring prominent mental health leaders, policy-makers, and thought leaders.

The inaugural session was graced by Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare, who consented to be the Chief Guest for the event, Prof. Khalid A. Mufti, Patron of the event, and Prof. Dr. Iqbal Afridi, Keynote speaker, all of whom set the tone for two days of groundbreaking discussions in their keynote opening addresses. Esteemed keynote speakers, including Dr. M. Zeshan, delved into critical topics such as empowering parents to tackle digital addiction in kids and teens.

Additionally, over the course of the two-day event, there will also be important discussions by Dr. Nasim Chaudhry on affordable and integrated mental health care solutions, Dr. Khalid A. Mufti on the psychiatric history, and Dr. Uzma Ali on substance use prevention strategies for youth.

In alignment with Karwan-e-Hayat’s mission to address diverse mental health challenges, PPRC’24 will explore groundbreaking themes. Dr. Qudsia Tariq will lead a critical session on domestic violence awareness, while Dr. Usama Bin Zubair will emphasize broadening perspectives on resistant mental health illnesses.

Other topics include innovative solutions for addressing Alzheimer’s, strategies for supporting caregivers, and the challenges of managing ADHD in children, all underscoring the conference’s focus on holistic and evidence-based approaches to mental health care.

In his welcome message, Mohammad Salim, Chairman of Karwan-e-Hayat, emphasized the significance of the conference in bringing together experts, researchers, and practitioners from Pakistan, USA, Canada, UK, and other countries.

Highlighting the event’s focus on rebuilding lives and restoring hope, he stated, "This conference provides a platform to share knowledge, network, and benchmark against the best practices in psychosocial and psychiatric rehabilitation, while advocating for holistic approaches to mental healthcare, evidence-based strategies, and collaborative initiatives."

PPRC’24 is structured around the “5S Themes” by Dr. Minhaj Qidwai, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, which shed light on Systems, State, Society, Self, and Spirituality. Discussions over the two-day gala event will span key topics such as mental health policy and legislation, advancements in treatment, self-care trends, and the role of spirituality in rehabilitation. With a stellar lineup of panelists and interactive workshops, the event promises to drive actionable change in mental health care delivery.

As a testament to Karwan-e-Hayat’s commitment to excellence, the conference comes on the heels of securing the Sindh Health Care Commission (SHCC) license, a major milestone validating the institute’s dedication to quality mental health services. This accomplishment reinforces Karwan-e-Hayat’s mission to provide world-class care through innovative treatments, awareness programs, and impactful community outreach.

About Karwan-e-Hayat:

For four decades Karwan-e-Hayat (KEH) has been one of the pioneering not-for-profit welfare organizations providing treatment and rehabilitation services for the mentally ill. Aside from being pioneers in psychiatric care and rehabilitation, Karwan-e-Hayat is also one of the few organizations who are Shariah compliant, ISO 9001-2015 certified and registered with the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP) for provision of quality psychiatric services. It is also the only mental health care facility in the Sindh province to have been granted the regular Sindh Health Care Commission license.

Last year, KEH facilitated more than 243,000 patient visits with almost 96% of overall patients treated free of cost and provided with medications at highly subsidized rates at its Keamari and Korangi facilities and completely free of cost treatment and medication at its 22 community outreach camps.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 21 2024

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