A Consultant Psychiatrist, Prof. Shehu Sale, on Thursday, called on governments and stakeholders in the health sector to fast-track track provision of accessible, quality and affordable mental health services in the country.
Sale, who is the Medical Director of Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Kware in Sokoto, made the call at a public lecture in commemoration of 2023 World Mental Health Day (WMHD) organised by the hospital.
He described the 2023 WMHD theme ” Mental Health is a Universal Human Right ” as apt and timely, urging Nigerians to ensure that human rights of persons with mental health conditions are not violated.
He said that mental health is an integral part of people’s overall health and wellbeing, which needs to be protected at all times.
The Consultant Psychiatrist decried that many people with mental health conditions were being violated and deprived of their rights in society because of their health conditions.
He explained that with increased cases of substance abuse, drug dependency rates and associated disorders, Federal Government constructed Women and Children Drug Dependent Treatment Center in the hospital.
The Medical Director added that women’s involvement in substance abuse and related disorders also affected their children including infants and needed expert remedies which necessitated the introduction of the treatment centers.
According to him, the hospital at present provides integrated healthcare services to the people besides psychiatric care which will reduce stigma being associated with mental health treatment.
”Treatment of all forms of illnesses, medical tests, and other services are being provided at all times in the hospital.
“ The hospital has world-class equipment such as mobile digital x-ray machine, mobile ultrasound machine, ultrasonography machine, digitalised medical and diagnostic records system, occupational therapy equipment and modern laboratory tools,” Sale revealed.
He said Federal Government has constructed and equipped an intensive care unit, a molecular laboratory, an isolation center, and other needed facilities.
Sale noted that total bed space and staff strength have been increased including experts in different fields, while the restoration of full accreditation status to the Post-Basic Psychiatric Nursing School at the hospital had been ensured.
In his presentation on the topic ” Reducing Mental Health Risks through Drug Abuse Awareness and Prevention ” Dr Shamsudeen Shehu, led participants on standard prevention and treatment modalities.
Umar presented available remedies of mental health disorders, substance abuse, rehabilitation and reintegration techniques to be provided in a health facility.
He dwelled on the chain of services for psychiatric patient care, different abnormalities and level of medical attention to be provided from Primary Healthcare centers to tertiary health institutions.
Earlier, the FNPH’s Head of Clinical Service, Dr Adebisi Adebayo, said the hospital organized chain of activities to mark the WMHD starting from road walk, lecture series to educate citizens on mental health.
Adebayo said mental health is a universal human right implying that every human being has right to accessible and quality mental healthcare services.
He noted that WMHD is celebrated annually on October 10 to raise awareness about mental health around the world and also to mobilise efforts to support those experiencing mental health issues.
The event was attended by traditional rulers, students from secondary schools, tertiary health institutions and the general public.
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