Agreement signed with Italian health authorities for new centre

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today between the health ministry and USL Umbria 1 that runs the health sector in Umbria, Italy.

The understanding will see prospective employees of the Dar Kenn Ghal Sahhtek receive professional training and mentoring in both Malta and Italy.

The agreement which spans over 28 months was signed following a tour of the €2 million centre in Mtarfa.

President George Abela who also heads the Malta Community Chest Fund, which runs the Dar Kenn ghal Sahhtek together with the health ministry, was present for the tour.

Abela said that the idea to open the centre came about after realising that the health sector in Malta lacks proper treatment for eating disrorders.

"The Malta Community Chest Fund took upon itself the task to open a centre specialising in the treatment of eating disorders and obesity away from the precincts of the Hospital," Abela said.

He added that the centre would offer multidisciplinary treatment, which will be free of charge. Abela said that the centre which can host up to 33 persons will offer treatment which is on a par with that offered abroad.

Health minister Godfrey Farrugia, Opposition MP Joe Cassar and MCCF secretary Darlene Zerafa were also present for the tour, along with a number of Maltese and Italian medical professionals.

Zerafa who was recently involved in a political controversy over her role within the organisation said that centre which will be chaired by Anton Grech, who is currently head of psychiatry at Mount Carmel Hospital, would offer wide ranging treatment by a number of professionals including nutritionists, psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists and gym instructors, among others.

President Abela was recently involved in a controversy and denied that he had proposed having the MCCF fund a Master's degree on eating disorders for its secretary Darlene Zerafa.

Zerafa, who is the sister of Abela's daughter-in-law, is also employed as the personal assistant to the President's wife Margaret Abela.

Leaked minutes of the MCCF show that Abela suggested that the charity funds Zerafa's distance-learning Master's degree, which deals with eating disorders, because it would serve in good stead for Dar Kenn Ghal Sahhtek, a foundation jointly run by the MCCF and the health ministry.

The centre is set to open by the end of 2013.