It is recommended that the ministry of health establish a demonstration area where policy, plans and programmes can be implemented more rapidly and evaluated more thoroughly than elsewhere in the country. The demonstration area can be a geographical region or a sector of a large city, provided that it is representative of the majority of the country’s population.

The knowledge that may be gained from a demonstration area is vital for the success of the policy in the whole country.

A demonstration area is also helpful for orienting and informing mental health professionals in the health districts, where they can learn how to implement the policy in their own localities.

It also serves as a training centre, where health staff from other districts can learn about new public health, promotive, preventive and clinical skills.