The Challenges in Implementing Task Shifting in Mental Health Service in Zimbabwe
- 1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Abstract
Non-communicable chronic diseases including mental disorders contribute
significantly to the world health burden according to World Health Organization
(WHO). Common mental disorders, neurological diseases and HIV related mental
disorders are under-diagnosed and cause significant morbidity. Mental health has
faced the challenge of lack of the necessary cadres such as psychiatrists, primary care
physicians that are interested in psychiatry and mental health nurses this has therefore
called for a need to develop reintroduce and regularize task shifting especially in
mental health spheres. Task shifting has been advocated as the solution to the shortage
of manpower. By definition task shifting is the process of sharing tasks from expensive
and scarce specialist resources to the available, relatively cheaper staff in order to
upscale the programs. Task shifting has been recognized for its ability to access hard
to reach communities. The guidelines that include the regulatory framework, ethical
processes, training guidelines, prior qualifications of the cadre to be up skilled, issues
of fidelity to treatment delivery and remuneration of the cadre need to be developed
and implemented.