The Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH) Kware, Sokoto State, has embarked on a roadshow to sensitise Nigerians on mental health and related issues.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Shehu Sale, while addressing newsmen during the roadshow, said activities were in commemoration of the 2023 World Mental Health Day with the theme ‘Mental Health is a Universal Human Right’.
Sale said the efforts continue as part of progressive approach to create awareness on mental health, substance abuse and related issues as well as decriminalised mental health perspectives to facilitate more access.
He said the day is an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma as well as influence policy makers on proactive engagements.
“We are looking beyond celebrating this day and look closely at the individuals around us with the eye of empathy.
”If one suffers from a disease, there is no reason to be stigmatised or to be criminalised, mental health is an integral part of the health system which is a complete state of physical, social and mental wellbeing.
“Mental Health Act, the policy, the guidelines to be developed, all of those represent an approach that we are taking as a country,” Sale said.
He explained that access, affordability and quality of mental health care should be an important direction that we should take in the context of our strategic blueprint for health.
Sale noted that FNPH Kware hosts regional Women and Children Drug Dependent Treatment Center catering for the population in northern states as the first of its kind established by the Federal Government in the country.
The center concentrates on women and children drug dependent victims coupled with the stigma which is always faced by patients on accessing such services even though they exist in some hospitals.
According to him, the hospital also provided Integrated health services, providing treatment on forms of illnesses with standard laboratory services and other tests besides mental health services as an effort to reduce stigma associated with such facilities.
Speaking in his address, the FNPH’s Head of Clinical Services, Dr Adebisi Adebayo, said mental health is a universal human right and needed to be integrated into health services at all levels.
Adebayo stressed that mental health deserves more practical strategies to prevent and manage common mental health conditions, and how to empower you to report on mental health issues.
He said mental health disorders had increased and affected 15 percent of working age adults globally, saying that at least one out of four persons had mental health challenges.
According to him, mental health is beyond the traditional issues as substance abuse especially among the youth has become a scourge that should be focused on.
“It is really affecting our society, it is actually causing disruption to the lives of our youths and adolescents and as government we are looking into this angle and putting programmes and policies in place to tackle this major scourge.” he said.
The procession starts from UDUTH gate to Gawon Nama, government house roundabout, Ali Akilu road and Sultan Bello road among other streets.
. TheWitness
