Member Society Highlight: ECAPA
Eman Gaber, Ministry of Health, Egypt and Treasurer, ECAPA
The Egyptian Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Association (ECAPA) was founded in December 2012. ECAPA’s vision is advancing all aspects pertaining to child and adolescent psychiatry, disseminating knowledge and enhancing clinical practice to best meet mental health needs of children, young people and all those involved in their care and development. Its membership consists of child and adolescent psychiatrists from all over Egypt. Current officers include Prof Suaad Moussa (President) , Prof Azza El Bakry, Prof Araf khowaild, Prof Maha Emadeldin (General Secretary) and Dr. Eman Gaber (Treasurer).
The organization that started with 50 members 7 years ago has since conducted numerous educational activities including several trainings for general psychiatrists, child psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, general practitioners, nurses, health educators, and teachers all over Egypt.
In 2016/2017 ECAPA, in cooperation with Egypt’s ministry of education, launched an awareness campaign about ADHD in all schools of Giza Governorate, and members of the association trained psychologists and teachers on early detection and how to support children in the classroom.
ADHD Awareness Campaigns
ECAPA became a member of the IACAPAP family in 2014 with the goal of addressing unmet needs in the field both regionally and internationally. In collaboration with IACAPAP and with the contribution of our distinguished experts a series of international conferences was started. It has proved to be of enormous value, offering an international perspective and a wealth of clinical and evidence-based knowledge that is applicable to day-to-day practice.
The 1st International Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Conference was held in Cairo 12 – 14 of September 2017 under the theme of “Enabling 21st Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists & Allied Professionals: Unmet Needs”. This was followed by the second Conference in September 2019 in Cairo entitled “Child & Adolescent Psychiatry: Embracing Diversity – Serving Community”
From ECAPA’s 1st International Conference
Conferences witnessed several oral presentations on a variety of topics from local, regional and international presenters; master Classes, short workshops and long workshops were delivered. Each was attended by around 140 attendees from all over Egypt: Greater Cairo, Lower Egypt: Alexandria, Dakahlia (Mansoura), Gharbeya (Tanta & Mahala) and Sharkeya Governorates, Upper Egypt: Assuit, Elmenia and Bani Suef Governorates. From outside Egypt attendees came from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Lebanon as well as from Singapore, France, the UK and USA.
The next conference will held in Cairo in 2021 for more information about ECAPA visit the website: http://www.ecapa-eg.com/
