HIBAPRESS – Ahmed Al-Masaad
As part of the "Psychological and Social Support for Children in Vulnerable Situations" project, the Shorouk Association for Mental Health in Oujda organized three medical and awareness caravans between September 29 and October 16, benefiting 100 children from social care institutions and reception centers for children in vulnerable situations.
The organization of these caravans was supported by the National Initiative for Human Development, in partnership with the National Solidarity and the University Hospital Center of Mohammed VI in Oujda. The aim was to bring specialized mental health services closer, enhance early detection of psychological difficulties and disorders, and provide spaces for listening and guidance.
The first caravan, hosted by the Al-Nujood Center on September 29, included 36 children from various institutions, including the Al-Nujood Center, the Al-Amal Center for Children in Vulnerable Situations, the Safaa Center for People with Intellectual Disabilities, and the Lalla Asmaa Center for the Deaf.
The second caravan was organized on October 9 at the Dar Al-Fatat Center and benefited 30 girls residing at Dar Al-Fatat and the Beit Al-Noor institution, where they underwent psychological examinations and consultations, along with listening and guidance sessions.
The headquarters of the Youth Association for People with Disabilities and their Friends hosted the third caravan on October 16, with the participation of 34 children from several care centers, including the Al-Wafa Center for Disabled Children, Lalla Amina Center, Happy Childhood Center, the Youth Association for People with Disabilities, and the Children's Home.
The caravans provided services including detection, assessment, psychological consultation, and guidance, along with educational and creative workshops in jewelry and accessory making, led by Professor Youssef Shatati. The goal was to encourage children to express themselves, develop their skills, and create interactive and recreational atmospheres alongside the health services.
In a statement on the occasion, Yamina Aarab, President of the Shorouk Association for Mental Health in Oujda, affirmed that these caravans "embody the association's commitment to making mental health a right accessible to every child, especially those in vulnerable situations, by bringing listening, detection, and guidance services closer to them, and working to ensure the continuity of support in coordination with families, institutions, and specialized professionals." She added that the association seeks to adopt an integrated approach that combines psychological and social support with educational activities, to help children overcome difficulties and enhance their integration.
The association clarified that the reported figure of 100 beneficiaries represents the total number of participants in the three caravans and does not necessarily indicate the number of cases requiring specialized treatment or follow-up, as the determination of this depends on the results of individual assessments and subsequent follow-up.
Subsequent support is expected to include, based on the needs of each case, specialized consultations in child psychiatry, psychological support, psychomotor therapy, speech and language therapy, as well as listening and guidance spaces and communication meetings with families and educational staff.
The Shorouk Association for Mental Health in Oujda extended its gratitude to the National Initiative for Human Development, the National Solidarity, the University Hospital Center of Mohammed VI in Oujda, and to the beneficiary institutions and centers, as well as the medical, psychological, and educational staff and volunteers, in appreciation of their contribution to the success of this initiative.
These caravans highlight the importance of joint work between civil society, public institutions, and the health sector in supporting children in vulnerable situations, promoting early detection, and facilitating access to mental health services, thereby contributing to the improvement of their developmental and social integration conditions.
