By: Felix Ikpotor
Professor Princewill Stanley, a consultant psychiatrist in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, has lamented the abysmal funding for mental health by successive governments at various levels.
Professor Stanley who is also the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, CMAC, of UPTH stated this while delivering a lecture at an event to mark the 2020 World Mental Health Day in Port Harcourt.
He said, “the total budget for health in Nigeria is merely about six percent and out of it, mental health is given about three percent. Most of the time, only about thirty percent of the budgetary allocation is released and out of this meager sum, only three percent is allocated to mental health”
He said the government needs to reverse the trend so that the country will not crumble under the heavy weight of mental health.
The medical practitioner called on government to laise with stakeholders in the sector and ensure that “adequate allocation is made to address the decay in the sector, training and retraining of mental health professionals, acquisition and upgrading of vital equipments and facilities that are available”
He also urged government to make the primary and secondary healthcare institutions working so as not to over burden the tertiary health institutions.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director, Professor Henry Ugboma harped on the need to appreciate the role played by mental health practitioners in our various communities, stressing that there was need to invest more in mental health as everyone has at one time or the other had a neuro-psychiatric diagnosis.
On his part, the Head, Department of Mental Health, UPTH, Dr Kennedy Nkorbu said this years’s celebration is anchored around events that have happened during and after the COVIID-19 pandemic.
He noted that the pandemic is a blessing in disguise for the sector as it has awakening the consciousness of the world to issues of mental health.
Dr Kennedy said the rate of mental health disorder globally and even in Nigeria is alarming and there is urgent need for government to take steps to salvage the situation.
The HOD advised government to increase funding for the sector and also passed into law the Mental Health Bill which has been lying fallow in the National Assembly.
Another speaker, Dr Michael Osika advised members of the public not to stigmatize and discriminate against persons with mental disorder.
He also noted that believe systems have hampered access to healthcare by mentally ill persons.
The theme of this years’ World Mental Health Day is “Greater Investment-Greater Access: Everyone, Everywhere”
