Welcome

Dear Friends,

         It is with great pleasure that I invite you to the 28th Biennial Congress of the World Federation for Mental Health to be held in Cairo, 4 - 8 September 2005. We all still remember the charm of our first meeting in 1987 in Cairo, a Congress that was one of the cornerstones in the development of the World Mental Health movement, both internationally and regionally. It introduced the issue of users participation, conflict resolution and the role of religion in Mental Health.

        We decided to select "Mental Health and Equity" as the theme for the 2005 Congress. Equity and Mental Health covers equity in health care where Mental Health should take its share in the health policies; equity between genders; equity for rural Mental Health; equity in Mental Health care across the life span; equity for users versus families involvement in Mental Health planning; equity for the availability of essential psychiatric drugs in primary health care as other drugs, equity for all world citizens in freedom, basic standard of living and availability of Mental Health care and psychiatric drugs for all.

        Egypt, as a central component of the Arab world, is rich with its civilizations and religions. This region has witnessed the birth of the three major religions. Egypt is rich with its wisdom and historical places that represent the human history.

        We hope to be able to give you the expected hospitality and a program that combines recent technology, update in psychopharmacology research, good practice in Mental Health programs, standard systems of care and policies in Mental Health. The congress will pay much attention to the new world disorder and its impact on Mental Health and the role of Mental Health professionals in helping policy makers to work for conflict resolution around the world to reach resilience in a world living in a turmoil.

                                                                                          Yours sincerely,

                                                                               Dr. Ahmed Abou El-Azayem

                                                                                      Congress Chairman