From Maurice Okafor, Enugu.
As a measure of curtailing increasing rate of mental illness in Nigeria,the Federal Government has mapped out plans to activate up to 15 mental healthcare outposts in the South-East zone of the country,to ensure mental health care services are within the reach of the people.
The Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Professor Monday Igwe,made the disclosure as one focus of his administration,as he was reappointed for a second term of service,as Chief Medical of the hospital.
The AUTHORITY recalls that the Association of Psychiatrics in Nigeria(APN),at their annual general meeting held in Enugu,had raised alarm of the growing ugly trend of mental illness in Nigeria,revealing that over forty percent of Nigerians suffer one sort of mental disorder. APN attributed the scourge to economic hardship,frustrations and depressoons especially among the set of Nigerians displaced from their traditional homes by the Boko haram menace,community struggles etc.
To curb the illness in the South East zone ,Prof Igwe said that his administration would activate one mental health care outpost in each of the 15 senatorial zones in the South-East zone.The strategy will enable patients in the remote villages and distant towns access mental treatments,while the serious ones will be brought to Enugu.
He stated,”The outposts will ensure that residents in the region have access to first aid mental health treatment close to them before they are referred to the hospital for further treatment”.
He disclosed that his management has already completed and fully equipped nine of of such outposts,waiting to be activated.
“We will ensure that our people have better access to mental health, especially as the president has earmarked an improved budget for health in the last budget,” he said”.
He said his administration would also upgrade the school of nursing to higher degrees and leave the hospital better than they met it.
He revealed that he would prioritise staff welfare as a measure to encourage them render their best in service to humanity. He cautioned that the management would sanction anybody who fails to deliver on their mandate.
He assured to make services obtained at Federal Neuro pychiatric hospital, Enugu,efficiently one of the best in the country and beyond.
His words,”We will ensure that we are a world centre of excellence in terms of delivering mental health services and this will surely put the hospital in the national and world map.”
Professor Igwe expressed gratitude to President Buhari, the Minister of Health and Minister of State for Health for upholding the recommendation of the hospital management board.Igwe’s reappointment was based on the recommendations of board of management of the hospital,who certified his first term services as satisfactory,insisting he should consolidate on the good works and services he is doing.
