By Stellamaries Amuwa
The Director-General, Institute of Medical and Health Law (IMHL), Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, has urged Nigerians to know their mental health rights.
Prof. Abugu made this known at the 2023 National Medical and Health Law Conference and Induction of Members on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, “every Nigerian family appears to be in an emergency ward of survival and unless something is done quickly it might get worse than this. We appreciate the efforts of the federal government for passing the National Act of 2022, it is a very good development by the federal government because that piece of legislation appears to be one of the best in Africa but unless and until it is effectively executed and implemented it will remain no better than the parchment of documents in which it is written.
” I congratulate all the new inductees, we are inducting some of the student members, some associate members, some full members, some associate fellows and some fellows.
“They are coming now that Nigerians need them most. Our work is to promote international best practices, advocacy and promote professional accountability in Medical and health care sectors, although majority of Nigerians are not aware of their medical health rights.”
Similarly, Swn. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, who represented Kwara-Central in the National Assembly stated that mental health is important because it is part and parcel of our health.
Oloriegbe said, “mental health is much affected by changes in social and economic situation, which is the current situation in Nigeria. There are currently social issues with banditry, armed robbers, and kidnappers which has increased and also increased the citizens fear and anxiety with economic hardship.
“The removal of fuel subsidy has also increased cost of living thereby increasing mental health and salary take-home can no longer take you anywhere.”
Meanwhile, stakeholders, corporate bodies, well meaning individuals and federal government have been called to do more in order to reduce the effect of the economic hardship which is seriously affecting every family in Nigeria.
