has over 10 years’ experience practising mental health in both private and public facilities in Zambia. She first engaged in mental health as a school leaver when she enrolled for a Christian counselling course at Evangelical University in Ndola during her gap year. She then went on to pursue her medical degree (2007), acquired a master of Science in Clinical Neuropsychology (2011) and later a master of medicine in Psychiatry (2016) in order to pursue her dream of changing the landscape of mental health in Zambia. In pursuit of providing excellent mental health services, in June, 2016, she set up Renaisense – a company that focuses on optimising individuals through counselling, psychotherapy, psychiatry, coaching and training. In her experience of mental health, she:
- Has actively contributed to the deliberations and presentation of the Mental Health Bill currently being discussed in Parliament,
- Has contributed to the fight against gender based violence and early marriage through training of psychological impact of such vices to MPs, the visually impaired and auditory impaired community in collaboration with Women and Law in Southern Africa
- Ran a support group for women struggling with infertility
- Increases advocacy and awareness through various Radio and TV programmes through media houses such ZNBC (TV1, TV2, Radio 2, Radio 4), Muvi TV, DiamondTV, MoneyFM, Radio Phoenix and QTV
- Through Renaisense, improved productivity of various employees by providing efficient mental health services for individuals and groups in the corporate sector
- Has contributed to the body of the scarce mental health research in Zambia through various studies with a successful publication and presentations at an international conference
- Has contributed to academic discourse in mental health at various institutions such as University of Zambia, Cavendish University, Lusaka Apex Medical University, Chainama Hills College Hospital and nursing colleges.
- Is the only designated UN Stress Counsellor as of April, 2018
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DR. MARIA AKANI
Eagle Wings Consulting
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