The Abia State First Lady, Mrs Priscilla Otti, on Thursday appreciated the founder of the Amaudo Integrated Community Mental Health Foundation, Sister Rosalind Colwill, for her love and passion for humanity, which led to the establishment of the centre in 1989 and has taken many mentally ill destitute people off the streets of the southern part of Nigeria.
Mrs Otti made her feelings public when she paid a working visit to the rehabilitation home at Itumbauzo community in Bende LGA of Abia State, assuring that a structure would be raised in the centre of the home to immortalise Sister Colwill for her rare sacrifice for humanity.
Mrs Otti promised to support the centre in the area of skills acquisition for residents undergoing rehabilitation at the centre and to partner with the management of the centre, led by the Very Rev. Kenneth Nwaubani, in ensuring that the free rehabilitation work being carried out by the centre is sustained.
“It gives me great joy to have the opportunity to visit this important facility that I have heard so much about and for the wonderful work that is being done here. I want to thank God, first of all, that this kind of place exists in our state, and I also want to thank God for the founders of this facility.
“I also want to thank, especially, the leadership of this place, ably led by the Very Rev. Kenneth Nwaubani, for the selfless work you do for humanity and for God. I know that God will continue to bless you and reward your labour of love, which will never be in vain.
“I am so happy, first of all, for the founder of this place, Nkechi Rosalind Colwill, who we have also heard much about years ago. She made us proud, and we are happy to celebrate her missionary work and selfless efforts.
“This administration will recognise her in one way or another and ensure that her name is immortalised,” Mrs. Otti said.
The Abia First Lady described the work being carried out at the centre as pure humanitarian and promised that in no distant time, the poor road network leading to the centre will be a thing of the past, in addition to attending to other concerns raised by the management of the centre.
“I thank God for the present administration; we are focused on uplifting Abians who have been under so much oppression for years. The administration of Governor Alex Otti has come to lift Abians out of poverty and improve their welfare, including the mentally ill and other less privileged ones who are so important to us.”
“We will work hand in hand with this home, which is the major facility here, to address the needs of the mentally ill and I assure you, I have taken note of your request.
“I promise that I will support you in any way, particularly in the area of skills acquisition. It will be my joy to see members of this community come out and be reintegrated with society as able and capable members who can fend for themselves,” Otti said.
Addressing the governor’s wife after conducting her around the centre, the Director, Amaudo Integrated Community Mental Health Foundation, the Very Rev Kenneth Nwaubani, thanked Lady Priscilla Otti for being the first wife of a governor to visit the centre, stating that the sacrifice of the centre spoke volumes of the commitment of the administration of Governor Alex Otti to rebuilding Abia for the better.
“You are the first Wife of the Executive Governor of Abia State to visit Amaudo since 1989 (35 years). This is a clear testimony of the spirit of the “New Abia State” manifested by the administration of His Excellency Dr Alex Otti. Your visit today is a reaffirmation of Dr Otti’s policy that all Abians have a place in his administration”.
Rev. Nwaubani said that the centre was established in 1989 by Rosalind Colwill, a British Social worker, through the Methodist Church Nigeria in response to the growing numbers of people with mental health problems roaming the streets.
He noted that so far, the centre has picked, rehabilitated, and reunited over 1,200 residents with their families, with many of them acquiring agricultural skills and trade, among other empowerments to earn a living, after reuniting them with their families and the larger society.
“Her Excellency, Amaudo, was deliberately established in the rural Itumbauzo Community in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State to draw the attention of the government to rural development.
This objective has been neglected by past Governments of Abia State.”
“The concept was simple and ground-breaking: Amaudo would help these people off the streets, support their rehabilitation and reintegration into society, and live with them as a community. Over 1,200 residents have since recovered and returned to their families, many with agricultural skills or a trade to support themselves. Since its humble beginnings, Amaudo has grown and developed. It now provides mental healthcare to over 10,000 people in the local areas of Abia State.”
“Amaudo works hard to raise awareness and challenge the widespread stigma and misinformation about mental health in many communities. It has also supported the government of Abia State in addressing the mental health needs of the population since 1989”, Rev Nwaubani said.
According to him, the centre urgently needs more funding to continue its humanitarian work to overcome its challenges as well as continue to support people with mental health needs in Abia State and beyond.
The Centre Director also called for the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the report conducted by Dr Ure Nnenna Lekwauwa, a renowned Abia-born psychiatrist based in the United States, which urged the Abia State Government to partner with the Amaudo Integrated Community Mental Health Foundation as the only credible institution with mental healthcare experience in the state in particular and Nigeria in general.
“In 2014, the Government of Abia State, under Governor T.A. Orji, commissioned a study on the mental health facilities in Abia State, which was conducted by Dr Ureh Nnenna Lekwauwa, a renowned Abia-born psychiatrist based in the United States. Through that report, Amaudo was recommended to the Abia State Government as an Institution that the Government can partner with for mental health rehabilitation. We are ready to offer ideas and skills you may need to address rehabilitation issues in Abia State, as the Very Rev. Nwaubani stated.
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