The National Centre for Mental Health under Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) launched the Maldives' first-ever mental health conference, named 'Oevaru' on Saturday, October 14.
The 'Oevaru' conference is set to be an annual event and is the first of its kind in the Maldives. Its primary aim is to raise awareness about mental health concerns and foster collaboration among policymakers and civil society organizations, allowing them to interact under one roof and share their visions.
This year's conference, themed 'Changing Currents – Forming Connections,' was announced by IGMH.
The inaugural proceedings commenced with pre-conference workshops, which took place at Meeruma Hall located in Henveiru district. The two-day conference will continue today and tomorrow at Villa Nautica Paradise Resort in Malé atoll, featuring keynote addresses, research presentations, and panel discussions.
The opening ceremony of the conference at Villa Nautica was graced by the presence of First Lady Fazna Ahmed.
Over 100 individuals from various institutions dedicated to promoting mental health have registered to participate, according to IGMH.